VietNamNet Bridge – Young cyclist Nguyen Quoc Dung won the fifth stage of the nation's most prestigious cycling tournament, the HCM City Television (HTV) Cup to grab the yellow jersey yesterday, April 25.

Need for speed: Cyclists sprint to the finish at the fifth stage of the HCM City Television Cup race around the city of Nha Trang. (Photo: VNS)

Le Huu Phuoc of Military Zone 7 and Dung's team-mate Vu Minh Quan finished second and third, respectively, in the fifth stage.

Dung won the yellow jersey with the best overall time of 15:59.27, followed by Trinh Duc Tam of Ha Noi and Huynh Thanh Tung of Military Zone 7.

Cyclist Le Nguyet Minh of Sai Gon Plant Protection 2 team retained the green jersey as best sprinter with 17 points, while Nguyen Van Tai of Domesco Dong Thap and Huynh Mai Duy of Vo Thanh Phong of Vinamit-HCM City vied for the red jersey for the King of Mountain.

Though Dung triumphed in this stage, he didn't take his team to the lead. Military Zone 7 rose to the lead after five stages with a combined time of 47:59.37. Domesco Dong Thap 1, An Giang Plant Protection, Sai Gon Plant Protection 1 and ADC-Vinh Long Television were the runners-up.

Racers will have a day-off today. Tomorrow, cyclists from 14 premier clubs continue their 138km sixth stage race from Nha Trang to Da Lat City, which includes conquering the two mountain passes of Khanh Le and Giang Ly.

The event, which is held annually to celebrate the anniversary of national Liberation Day on April 30, covers an overall distance of 1,000km in nine different stages.

Special awards will be given to cyclists who win the yellow jersey, green jersey, red jersey and white jersey.

The 17-stage event last year finished with Tuguldur Tuulkhangai from Mongolia winning the yellow jersey - an individual title for overall leader. Mai Nguyen Hung of Sai Gon Plant Protection 1 secured the red jersey, and Dong Thap's Do Tuan Anh claimed the overall green jersey.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News