Date: Thursday, 25 July 2024
VOICE OF INDONESIA, BANYUWANGI - The 2024 Tour de Banyuwangi Ijen (TdBI) has ended in stage 4 with a finish at Paltuding, Mount Ijen, Thursday (7/25/2024). Merhawi Kudus, emerged as the overall champion.
The world racer from Eritrea, East Africa, previously appeared in the Grand Tour. The Grand Tour is the most prestigious and historic bicycle racing event in the world.
There are three bicycle racing competitions that are Grand Tours, namely the Tour de France (France), Giro d'Italia (Italy), and Vuelta a Españam (Spain).
Merhawi Kudus, who has now joined the Terengganu Malaysia team, has appeared in the 2022 Giro d'Italia and La Vuelta a Espana 2020 and 2022.
Merhawi Kudus succeeded in becoming the overall champion of TdBI after conquering stage 4 or the final stage, starting at Boom Marina and finishing at Paltuding, Mount Ijen.
This result makes Kudus entitled to the Ijen Sulfur Jersey (Yellow Jersey) or the leader of the race. Not only that, Kudus also won the Rebound Jersey (Polkadot Jersey) or the king of the climb.
For the G land Jersey (Green Jersey) or best sprinter was won by Laas Martin from the Fereiquick Panda Podium Mongolia Team. Lass Martin is also a racer who appeared in the Grand Tour, La Vuelta Ciclista a España 2021.
Meanwhile, the Gandrung Jersey (Red and White Jersey) or the best Indonesian racer was won by Muh. Imam Arifin from the Nusantara Team.
The race in Stage 4 was fierce. The thin points and time records made the racers try to lead.
Finally Kudus managed to become the fastest with a time of 4 hours 34 minutes 56 seconds. In second place was his teammate who is also from Trengganu, Mikel Eyob with a time of 4 hours 36 minutes 9 seconds. While Prades Reverte Benjami from VC Fukuoka (Japan) was in third place with 4 hours 37 minutes 9 seconds.
Kudus said he had high expectations for the Mount Ijen climb, and had studied the conditions and difficulty of the route which was categorized as Hors Categorie .
"I have high expectations for the Ijen track. This is my first time in Banyuwangi. I also learned a lot from cyclists who have experienced Ijen before to know its difficulty. If measured on a scale of 1 to 10, Ijen has a value of 9," said Kudus.
Kudus said this result was in accordance with his team's strategy. His team tried to always be in the peloton until the last King of Mountain (KOM) at KM 162 Mount Rante, Ijen. In the last 6 kilometers to the finish , he made a breakaway and managed to overtake Adne Van Engelen from Rojai Insurance Thailand who had previously led, and finally became the fastest.
"The height of 2000 meters above sea level is the most comfortable position for me to overtake. I saw Adne accelerating at the beginning, but towards the 6 kilometers before the finish I tried to overtake and succeeded," said Kudus.
Kudus admitted that the 4 stages in Ijen were a tough race . However, the support of the Banyuwangi community kept him motivated to give his best. "Spectacular. Even from the early stages I received extraordinary support," he explained.
Tour de Banyuwangi Ijen champion Merhawi Kudus from Terengganu Cycling Team Malaysia arrives at the finish line on the final stage, Thursday (25/7/2024). (Photo/udi)IMDIVIDUAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION BY TIME (IJEN SULFUR JERSEY)
1. 5 Kudus Merhawi Terengganu Cycling Team 14:31:06
2. 4 Eyob Metkel Terengganu Cycling Team 14:31:15
3. 772 Prades Reverte Benjamin VC Fukuoka 14:33:25
BEST INDONESIAN RIDER (Gandrung Jersey)
1. 115 Arifin Muh. Imam Nusantara Team 14:39:54
2. 172 Soleh Abdul BRCC 14:40:03
3. 111 Maulana Astnan Nusantara 14:41:17
BEST SPRINTER' CLASSIFICATION (G land Jersey)
1. 83 Laas Martin Fereiquick Panda Podium Mongolia Team 32; points
2. 23 Cavanagh Ryan Kinan Racing Team 27 points
3. 42 Campbell Max Ccache xPark Up 26 points
BEST CLIMBER'S CLASSIFICATION - KOM (Rebound Jersey/Polkadot)
1. 5 Kudus Merhawi Terengganu Cycling Team 31 points
2. 4 Eyob Metkel Terengganu Cycling Team 21 points
3. 772 Prades Reverte Benjamin VC Fukuoka 18 points
Team General Classification
1. Terengganu Cycling Team
2. Banyuwangi Road Cycling Team
3. Pontianak Wijaya Racing Team
Best Indonesian Team
1. Archipelago
2. Banyuwangi Road Cycling Team
3. DR.J Cycling Team
