Jakub Mareczko’s stock rises with more stage wins at Langkawi

In a rainy sprint finish which nearly mirrored the finale of the Abu Dhabi Tour (won by fellow 22-year-old sprinter Caleb Ewan on Sunday), Polish-born Italian Jakub Mareczko (Wilier Triestina) pulled off his second stage victory of the week at Le Tour de Langkawi (UCI 2.HC) on Tuesday.

In fact, Mareczko’s stage 7 win in Rembau is also a copy of his win last year – minus the rain – and marks the 22nd pro win of his young career.

“Yeah, I won last year, and I expected to do very well this year,” the pre-race sprint favourite told Italian website TuttoBici. “In 2016 there was a turn and then 400m to the finish. I was with my train [Alberto] Cecchin and [Rafael] Andriato and after the turn I the started sprint in perfect position.”

Wilier personnel had recced the final kilometer prior to the stage and made the stage 3 winner aware of the need to take the first turn, which he did and opened an immediate 30m gap on Androni rider Andrea Palini.

WorldTour teams continue to gain interest in the 2016 under-23 world road race bronze medallist, who in just two-and-a-third seasons has also racked up wins at Tour Hainan, Tour de Qinghai Lake, Tour de San Luis and Tour of Turkey, including two against André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) last year.

With the win, Mareczko also lifts the teal points jersey off current race leader and stage 5 winner Ryan Gibbons (Dimension Data), a pre-race goal he would like to see to fruition.

“[The points classification] was my hope before the tour,” admitted Mareczko. “So today I take it and I’ll try tomorrow to take it to the finish of the tour.”

While Gibbons drops the points jersey, his attention solely remains on defending the yellow jersey with one final stage to go. But according to the 22-year-old South African, who cautiously approached today’s final, it will be full gas in the finale on Wednesday.

“Tomorrow is the last stage, so you kind can leave it all out there,” said Gibbons. “I was a bit worried about crashing in the final [today]. You may not lose time in the final 3k if you crash, but you can be injured.

“But tomorrow I will go all out no matter the weather.”

As he has all week since taking the jersey on stage 2 from opening day winner Scott Sunderland (IsoWhey Sports-SwissWellness), Gibbons was highly appreciative of his team’s efforts to date.

“[My team is] very motivated,” he said. “They have been working really, really hard. Fortunately we have the jersey and that’s what matters. Morale is high and everyone is looking really good.

“I am so proud of them and grateful.”

The points jersey is not the only one still up for grabs, as Wilmar Perez (Sapura) continues his assault on John Ebsen’s week-long reign in the red and green mountains jersey.

For the second straight day Perez cut into the Dane’s lead and now trails the Infinite AIS rider by 8 points with 10 points still up for grabs and with two catagorised climbs waiting on the 121km eighth and final stage.

Stage 7 Classification

1. Jakub Mareczko, ITA, Wilier Triestina, 3:23:45

2. Travis McCabe, USA, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling, s.t.

3. Andrea Palini, ITA, Andoni Giocattoli-Sidermec, s.t.

General Classification

1. Ryan Gibbons, RSA, Dimension Data, 18:53:06

2. Cameron Bayly, AUS, IsoWhey Sports-SwissWellness, +0:24

3. Alberto Cecchin, ITA, Wilier Triestina, +0:28

Classification Leaders

Race Leader (Yellow Jersey): Ryan Gibbons, RSA, Dimension Data

Points Leader (Teal Jersey): Jakub Mareczko, Wilier Triestina

Mountains leader (Red Jersey): John Ebsen, DEN, Infinite AIS Cycling Team

Best Asian Rider (White Jersey): Hideto Nakane, Nippo-Vini Fantini

Best Malaysian Rider: M Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin, MAS, Terengganu Cycling Team

Best Malaysian Rider Overall: Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin, MAS, Terengganu Cycling Team

Combativity Award: Greg Henderson, NZL, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling

Teams Classification: IsoWhey Sports-SwissWellness, 79:19:52