BERA: Japanese Taiji Nishitani of Aisan Racing Team clinched the sixth stage of the 2009 Jelajah Malaysia (JM2009) from Kuantan to Bera yesterday.

Nishitani, 28, clocked the fastest time of two hours, 52 minutes and three seconds to lead a group of 109 riders in the first peloton reaching the finishing line.

“I’m very satisfied with the win and to be the stage winner today. I already knew that the Australian riders were good in the sprint.

“I just marked both of them and followed their rhythm towards the finishing line. I’m really very happy and want to dedicate this stage win to our Team Coordinator, Nana Watarai,” said Nishitani.

About 100 metres from the finishing line, Nishitani managed to overtake two Australian riders — Joel Pearson of Savings and Loan Cycling Team and Shaun McCarthy of Ride Sport Racing.

Tabriz Petrochemical’s rider, Mehdi Sohrabi from Iran continues to lead the overall individual classification (Yellow Jersey) with a total time of 24 hours, 33 minutes and four seconds, while Nishitani followed by four seconds deficits.

Briton James Spragg of Trek Marco Polo Cycling Team accumulated 24’33:09s to settle for third position after six stages.

Mehdi also retained the green jersey as he topped the sprint classification with 21 points.

In the King of the Mountain (KOM) standings for the Red Polka Dot Jersey, Iran’s Abbas Saeditanha of Azad University Continental Team leads with 15 points.

“Today we only have one KOM in the route and I just want to get ready for tomorrow’s climb. We (Azad University team) have to do our very best. We have to see the route condition before planning any strategy,” said Abbas.

Senior national rider Suhardi Hassan heads the Malaysian Individual Classification race (White Jersey) after accumulating 24’45:28s, about five minutes ahead of teammate Wan Mohd Najmee Wan Mohamad, while Terengganu Toshiba Bike-Labz rider Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin is third in placing.

The national team still leads the Malaysian team category with a time of 74’18:45s, followed by LeTua Cycling Team (74’21:16s) and Terengganu Toshiba Bike Labz (74’41:49s).

Azad University Continental Team tops the open standings with a time of 73’39:42s, followed by Tabriz Petrochemical Team (73’40:16s) and Savings & Loan Cycling Team (73’56:23s).

The race resumes today with a gruelling climb to Gohtong Jaya in Genting Highlands from Tanjung Malim, Perak.

There will be three KOM zones along the 116.2km route at Templer Park, Batu Dam and Genting Highlands and prior to that, three sprint zones are allocated at Batang Kali, Serendah and Sungai Tua.

— Bernama