(Langkawi, 19 October 2012): Fabian Giger and Lea Davison edged closer for the overall title of Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge (LIMBC) 2012 after getting on the podium in the fourth stage today. With only one stage left, Giger is well on his way to grab the challenge’s trophy tomorrow after finishing second in the 27.5 km Stage 4 Langkawi Geo Park Cross-Country behind teammate and stage winner Emil Lindgren who clocked 1:33:35.15 with Karl Markt joining the podium for the first time with third placing. The Swiss rider has a comfortable lead of 6:18.10 ahead of Kristian Hynek of Ceska Sporitelna who is second in the overall classification, “I am a cross-country rider and the short course suits me well. I am happy and looking forward for tomorrow,” said Giger with a smile.
American Lea Davison is also moving a step closer for the title as she continues to lead the women’s overall into the Stage 5 showdown at Pantai Kok tomorrow. The Team Specialized rider was third and 1:12.67 behind the Stage 4 winner and defending champion Nathalie Schneitter from Colnado-Sudtirol who clocked 1:32:13.65 to complete the four laps of 4.5 km course. Schneitter’s teammate Eva Lechner clinched the second place. Davison is leading the overall standing with a convincing time lead of nine-minute and twenty one point zero two seconds ahead of Elisabeth Sveum of Norway and Janka Stevkova of Slovakia. “I am pleased with my form today. Barring any disaster tomorrow, I am looking good for the title,” said the 29-year-old Olympian.
Tomorrow’s finale is a 1.6km short circuit on the stunning beach front of Pantai Kok.
Malaysia’s best finish for today is a podium finish by Zamani Supartin of Le Tua by grabbing second place in the Senior Men’s Master 13.5km race while Masziyaton Mohd Radzi and Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi finished in ninth position of the Women’s Open and 14 th place in the Men’s Open respectively.
Australian Jenni King (Anytime Fitness/Trek) placed 7th on todays stage and remains in 8th place in the open womens overall GC.
For complete results check the MTBMalaysia website and for some visual highlights check out this: LIMBC hIghlights on YOUTUBE
Category leaders after Stage 4 (from left) Hartmut Hofmann for Senior Men’s Master (BLUE) Fabian Giger for Men’s Open (YELLOW), Lea Davison for Women’s Open (PINK) and Nicholas Craig for Men’s Master (GREEN) (photo by MTBMalaysia.com)