David McCann today ran out as the overall winner of the Tour de Korea, finishing safely alongside his main challengers on the final stage of the 2.2 ranked race.
McCann had taken over at the top of the general classification on Monday when he won the second stage, and aided by fellow Irishman Paul Griffin and the rest of the Giant Asia team, successfully defended the leader’s jersey in the following four days of racing.
The 2004 FBD Milk Rás winner ended the Asian event 16 seconds clear of MG XPower rider Stuart Shaw, with another Australian Eddy Hollands (Team Marco Polo) a further 2 seconds back in third. Robert Mclachlan (MG XPower pb BigPond) won today’s final stage, a 231 kilometre race from Won Ju to Ha Nam.
----------
Tour of Korea (2.2)
Stage 6, Won Ju - Ha Nam:
1, Robert Mclachlan (MG XPower pb BigPond) 231 kilometres in 3 hours 18 mins 5 secs
2, Jang Sun Jae (National Military physical training unit)
3, Kim Dong Yung (Yangyang County Hall building)
4, Su Sug Gyoo (Seoul City) at 1 min
5, Pak Sung Baeg (Seoul City)
6, O Se Yong (National Military physical training unit)
Final General Classification:
1, David McCann (Giant Asia) 22 hours 5 mins 3 secs
2, Stuart Shaw (MG XPower pb Big Pond) at 16 secs
3, Eddy Hollands (Marco Polo) at 18 secs
4, Ahad Kazemi (Giant) at 24 secs
5, Jang Sun Jae (National Military physical training unit) at 1 min 25 secs
6, Kim Jae In (Seoul City) at 2 mins 41 secs
----------
MCCANN EDGES CLOSER TO VICTORY
Giant Asia rider David McCann is just one stage away from an excellent victory in the Tour de Korea, the northern rider successfully defending his race leader’s jersey on today’s penultimate day of racing. McCann went clear in a break and successfully distanced the second rider overall, Seon-Jae Jang (Sang Moo) before the finish. McCann was 9th on the stage, finishing in a group sprinting for seventh place 29 seconds after the day’s winner Shaun Higgerson (MG XPower). Paul Griffin finished 57th.
McCann will start tomorrow’s 135 kilometre stage with a lead of just over 16 seconds over Stuart Shaw (MG XPower), but is relatively confident of holding on.
‘Today went well,’ said McCann. ‘I held onto the jersey and eliminated most of the rivals. There was a 1000 metre climb and we broke it up nicely. The stage was neutralised for first part of the descent as we were in the clouds and visibility was less than 50 metres. After the restart, a break went clear with four from Giant, four from MG-Xpower, two from Marco Polo, the second placed rider overall Jang, plus a few others. We put good time into the bunch and then Jang lost contact on one of the smaller climbs of the day.’
’A good pace on the last climb saw a few more lose contact. Stuart Shaw of MG XPower attacked on the climb, but after that I countered and went clear on my own, before sitting up and waiting. It was pretty settled riding until the last 5km. Again, I let the non GC contenders ride away to take the time
bonuses and finished comfortably with Shaw, Holland and Kazemi, the new second, third and fourth-placed riders overall.’
’There is only 135km tomorrow. It is hilly all day but there are no big climbs. Although its close, we should be able to keep the 2 dangermen under control.’
--------
Tour de Korea, stage 5 (Yang Yang - Won Ju):
1, Shaun Higgerson (Mg XPower)
2, Sung Back Park (Seoul City)
3, Rob McLaughlin (MG Xpower)
4, Hossein Askari (Giant Asia)
5, Jeong Huan Yeom (Ga-Pyeong County)
6, Mike Carter (Marco Polo) all same time
Other: 9, David McCann (Giant Asia) at 29 secs; 57, Paul Griffin (Giant Asia) at 9 minutes 56 secs
General Classification:
1, David McCann (Giant Asia) 18 hours 45 mins 58.68 secs
2, Stuart Shaw (MG XPower) at 16.17 secs
3, Edmund Hollands (Marco Polo) at 17.93 secs
4, Ahad Kazemi (Giant Asia) at 23.61 secs
5, Seon Jae Jang (Sang Moo Team) at 2 mins 30.5 secs
Other: 42, Paul Griffin, at 17 mins 32 secs
------
MCCANN STAYS IN YELLOW
Tour of Korea race leader David McCann held on at the top of the 2.2 ranked race today, finishing safely in the main bunch at the end of the 75 kilometre stage 4 criterium.
Four riders went clear during the 25 lap race in Yang Yang, with the final honours going to Won Jae Lee (Kor-Seoul City).
‘It worked out well today,’ said McCann. ‘Four guys got away in the crit and took the three time bonuses. There was a bunch sprint behind so things went to plan.’
‘There is a good hilly day tomorrow which I am looking forward to. Then stage 6 has had to be shortened to 136km, instead of the monster 230km planned.’
-------------
MCCANN LEADS TOUR DE KOREA
After four stages of the Tour de Korea, Giant Asia professional David McCann lies at the head of the general classification in the 2.2 ranked race. The Belfast rider finished approximately 40th in the opening 1.4 kilometre prologue on Saturday, 6 seconds slower than the day’s winner Seon-Jae Jang (Sang Moo), then crossed the line as part of the main bunch on stage one.
McCann vaulted into the race lead when he won stage two, going clear during the race to Yang Yang with 12 others and opening up a three minutes-plus lead over the main bunch. He pressed ahead alone with four kilometres remaining and time-trialled from there to the finish, cutting through the strong headwind to reach the line ten seconds ahead. Jang finished third, taking a four second time bonus, but with McCann netting a ten second bonus for his win, the combined total moved him into a clear lead.
Today’s 160 kilometre third stage was all about defence, and the 2004 FBD Milk Rás winner was happy with how things went. ‘There was some great work by the team today,’ he said. ‘A group of eleven got clear with no real danger men in it. The Giant Asia guys rode all day behind it. Three stayed clear to take the ten, six, and four second time bonuses on offer, with Robert McLaughlin of the MG XPower squad beating Sung-Bak Park of Seoul City for the win.’
‘The bunch came in 1min 40-something down. The sprint was won by Jang, second placed overall, so it was just as well that the time bonuses were gone!’
The Tour de Korea continues with three more stages. Tomorrow sees the riders tackle an 80 kilometre criterium in Yang Yang, following which the action is rounded off by an 166 kilometre stage from there to Won Ju and a 231 kilometre leg to Ha Nam.
McCann is unsure about his prospects. ‘There are 12 riders within 25 seconds and I don’t fancy my chances if it comes down to bonuses. That said, it is very, very windy and there are a few hilly days to come. So we will try and break it up a bit further.’