VietNamNet Bridge – Le Van Duan won the first stage of the Ben Tre Television Cycling Tournament yesterday, Jan 7, finishing the 130km from Ben Tre City to Can Tho City in 2hr 53.49min.

Nose in front: Le Van Duan of HCM City's Eximbank team (left) sprints to the finish line of the first stage of the Ben Tre Television Cycling Tournament.

Fifteen racers broke away after 30km until 5km from the My Thuan Bridge when Duan and teammates Truong Nguyen Thanh Nhan and Mai Nguyen Hung took off on their own.

Duan passed teammate Hung in the last metres to win the first of three stages, for which he was rewarded with 5 points. He took both the yellow jersey with the best overall time and green jersey for the best sprinter of 30 points.

Hung was second and Tran Van Quyen of the Military Zone 7 third.

With two racers in the top three, HCM City's Eximbank topped the team event with a combined time of 8:41:21.
They were followed by Military Zone 7 and Domesco Dong Thap Pharmacy.

The second stage is the 101km from Can Tho City to Tra Vinh City to be run today. The tournament has attracted 70 racers from 14 teams. It will conclude tomorrow.

Source: VNS