Lami, Klemencic Claim Yellow, Pink Jersey On Second Day

LANGKAWI (Kedah, Malaysia), Oct 15 (Bernama) -- Slovakian rider Michal Lami and Blaza Klemencic from Slovenia moved to the fore in the men's and women's Elite categories after the first stage of the Langkawi International Mountain Bike (LIMBC) 2014 challenge, here Tuesday. Lami snatched the Yellow jersey from overnight leader Nicola Rohrbach from Switzerland while Klemencic took over the Pink jersey from Italian rider Eva Lechner who clocked the fastest time in the Prologue event Monday. The 65km first stage of the "Langkawi Round Island" race which started at Taman Lagenda, saw Lami finish second behind Team Bulls rider Karl Platt from Germany. He clocked 2 hours 22 minutes 56.70 seconds while Platt did 2'22:56s seconds. Lami who now has an accumulated time of 2'27:52.70s over the two days pipped Rohrbach who had won the Prologue event Monday. Third place in Tuesday's race went to Kazakhstan's Kazantsev Kirill with a time of 2'25:17s. "On the half way mark there were around 10 riders with me but at the last stage there was only me and Platt, so we pushed hard to beat each other. Still it's amazing for me because I did not expect to be a winner. "But the feeling of being on the podium is the best feeling ever because this is my first time wearing the yellow jersey," Lami told reporters after the race Tuesday. Klemencic, 34, meanwhile, representing the Slovenia national team, was a clear winner with a time of 2'45:14.40s, beating yesterday's Prologue winner Lechner (2'48:04,70s) by almost three minutes while another Slovenian, Tanja Zakelj representing Team Unior Tools finished third on 2'51:55.40s. "I'm tired but still happy.. This is my third time here but my first stage and jersey win.. The track is much longer but it's easier than last year and less muddy compared to last year.. I didn't have any difficulty with my bicycle and I will do my best for tomorrow's (Wednesday) race to keep the jersey," said Klemencic. The LIMBC continues Wednesday with the 'Langkawi East To West' race over a distance of 45km. FIRST STAGE RESULTS: Men's Elite: 1. Karl Platt (GER) Bulls Team (2'22:56s) 2. Michal Lami (SVK) Slovakia National Team (2'22:56.70s) 3. Kazantsev Kirill (KAZ) Kazakhstan National Team (2'25:17s) Women's Elite: 1. Blaza Klemencic (SLO) Slovenia National Team (2'45:14.40s) 2. Eva Lechner (ITA) Colnago Suditrol Team (2'48:04.70s) 3. Tanja Zakelj (SLO) Unior Tools Team (2'51:55.40s) -- BERNAMA