Chtioui Rafai of Doha Team kept his good form going as he again finished second in the fourth stage of the Jelajah Malaysia (JM) 2009 in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, on Wednesday. Rafa took four hours, nine minutes and 22 seconds to finish the race behind the local boy Anuar Manan. This was Rafai third podium finish in four stages. In the second stage he came third, while in the last two stages he maintained his second position. Doha team, who finished the stage one and to at fourth and eight positions, respectively consolidated its position by finishing the fourth stage at the second spot, “It was a flat course and I was aiming for the win today and but I thank my fellow riders who have been working hard from the start for today’s race. However, I managed to be in the lead bunch at the finishing line and happy to finish second,” Rafai said after the race. Doha Team’s manager Ahmed Abdullah al Hemaidi also expressed satisfaction over the Doha Team’s riders show in the event, by saying, “I am happy with my boys’ performance. Rafai is doing a fantastic job and the other riders are also trying their best and as result we have consolidated our position after the fourth round. I hope in the next stages, our riders will improve their standing.” The local boy Anuar Manan, who represents Azad University, won the 177.5-km stage from Pasir Mas to Kuala Terengganu and dedicated his victory to the locals of his birthplace. Anuar, 23, led the other 95 riders to the finish in a bunch in four hours nine minutes and 21 seconds. “A number of riders attacked fiercely during the race and I didn’t get to add any points for the green jersey at the sprint zones as I was keeping my energy for the finish,” said Anur. Yellow and green jerseys are still in the hands of Mehdi Sohrabi of Azad University while the white jersey is with Suhardi Hassan of Malaysian national team.

Writer : Sonia Azad