Some weird political entities, some micro-nations and Malaysia come together for a mountainous national championship.
7k left to ride, Azman, who had been ahead by as much as 30 seconds has just been caught by Choi and Fung. There is an 18-rider chase group at 33 seconds. Only the Eswatini title looks decided as Nyoni is well back while Jele is in the chase group.
The three attackers are caught and with 5.6k to climb the next attack comes from Misbah. Fung follows him.
Fung is caught quickly but it takes to the 3k mark to bring back Misbah. Miltiadis leading the chase. Still 2 from Puerto Rico, 2 from Hong Kong, 3 from Malaysia and 2 from Cyprus in the leading group of 9, so all those titles still to be decided. The 2 Cypriots are both on ELCO and the 2 Puerto Ricans are both on MOL so team orders might control the winners there.
Soon after a series of attacks drop Morales Ortega making Gonzalez the likely Puerto Rican champion.
2k to go. Choi has pulled clear of the rest, he looks the likely Hong Kong champion. Misbah in 2nd on the road looks to have the edge in the Malaysian race while Agrotis in the 3rd group has daylight over Miltiadis.
A nice acceleration from Azman brings him back to Misbah and the Malaysian title is up for grabs with 1.5k to ride. Miltiadis tried to follow Azman back but couldn't stay with him and he is 15 seconds behind the group with Agrotis.
800 meters, an acceleration by Azman gives him a small lead over Misbah.
Choi wins the race easily to take the Hong Kong title. Azman finishes just ahead of Misbah to become the Malaysian champion. Agrotis, 4th on the day and Gonzalez, 5th are the Cypriot and Puerto Rican champions.
Jele finishes 10th to take his first national title.
Results
1
Ki Ho Choi (HKG)
ZARA - Irizar
1h50'46
2
Muhamad Zawawi Azman (MAS)
Sauber Petronas Racing
+ 19
3
Mushin Misbah
Sauber Petronas Racing
+ 27
4
Alexandros Agrotis (CYP)
ELCO - ABEA
s.t.
5
Abner Gonzalez (PUR)
MOL Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Andreas Miltiadis
ELCO - ABEA
+ 46
7
Ka Hoo Fung
King Power
s.t.
8
Muhamma Afif Ahmad Zamri
Genii 2
+ 1'18
9
Jacob Morales Ortega
MOL Cycling Team
+ 1'43
10
Kwanele Jele (SWZ)
Benetton Bimex Cycling
+ 2'32
11
Nur Amirul Marzuki
Lotto-Caloi
+ 3'03
12
Wan Yau Lau
Everesting
+ 3'59
13
Alexandros Matsangos
Carlsberg - Danske Bank
s.t.
14
Stavros Theorpanous
Genii Hyundai N Cycling
s.t.
15
Muhammad Suhaimi Ghani
Sauber Petronas Racing
s.t.
16
Michael Christodoulos
Cedevita
+ 4'23
17
Ho San Chiu
King Power
+ 6'17
18
Nur Aiman Zariff
Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh
+ 9'22
19
King Lok Cheung
Duvel-Tsingtao
+ 9'57
20
Chun Wing Leung
King Power
+ 11'31
21
Similo Nyoni
SEE Turtles
+ 12'43
Time Trial
Misbah versus Ahmad Zamri for the Malaysian title seems like the most likely contest to be competitive. Ahmad Zamri has won it 9 straight times, can Misbah stop him from 10? The Puerto Rican title should also be close, although it is mainly a competition to see who can be less slow.
Morales Ortega finishes 4’42 slower than the current leader, Fung but he is fractions faster than Gonzalez, making him the Puerto Rican TT champion.
Ahmad Zamri finishes in 1’01’20. Misbah right behind him on the road.
Misbah finishes a second slower, that’s a decade of titles for Ahmad Zamri.
Nyoni finishes 8’29 faster than Jele to take the Eswatini title. That is 3 in a row for him, it seems like he could get to 10 before he is done.
Leung goes 30 seconds faster than Fung to take the Hong Kong title.
Christodoulos is the last to finish and has the best time. He is the champion of Cyprus.
