After winning the opening stage, Duber Quintero enjoyed a long spell as race leader in the Tour de Langkawi but today's queen stage spelled the end for the young Colombian. Instead, it was Carlos Quintero who climbed well to take another top 10 result for the South American team.

The much anticipated Tour de Langkawi queen stage, with the uphill finish to Genting Highlands, was characterized by a long escape, whose protagonists included Team Colombia’s Jeffry Romero and Carlos Julian Quintero, the latter eventually crossing the finish line in 10th place.

Iranian Mirsamad Poorseyedigolakhour (Tabriz) took the stage and conquered the leader’s jersey, ahead of Merhawi Kudus (MTN – Qhubeka) and Isaac Bolivar (United Healthcare). Despite his strong effort, Duber Quintero had to give up the yellow jersey after 3 days.

In the early phase of the race, characterized by many break attemps, a 30-man group went on the attack, and was never reached by the peloton despite Europcar and Saxo-Tinkoff attempts to organize the chase. The breakaway group splintered on the final climb but Carlos Quintero managed to keep on with the lead until the final 3 km. At that point, Bolivar accelerated again, but it was Poorseyedigolakhour who eventually landed the spoils.

“I’m satisfied with our performance”, Sports Director Valerio Tebaldi said. “The stage was short but very tough. After a few kilometers, a large group went on the attack but the presence of Carlos Quintero and Romero allowed us to remain sheltered. In the finale we tried to play our cards with Carlos, and we could bag another top-10 placement.

“I’m sorry for Duber Quintero, who lost the yellow jersey after three days, but it was almost impossible to control the race in the early phases”, Tebaldi explained. "In these days, Duber has been living a dream taking his first win as a pro, and the team showed unity in the defense of the yellow jersey”.

Tomorrow, Monday March 3rd, the fifth stage will take the riders from Karak to Rembau (139km). The route is flat in the first part and in nervous in the finale characterized by two 3rd category climbs.

Meanwhile, at the Track World Championships in Calì, Juan Esteban Arango finished the Omnium event in 6th place. Today, the Colombian pistard will back on track to take part in the Madison along with his teammate and new Points Race World Champion Edwin Avila.