After three second-place finishes in as many days of racing, Li Ning Star finally managed to break the curse of victory at the Tour of Thailand thanks to Cameron Scott. The Australian, claiming his second win of the season after the one at the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour, conquered the Nong Khai-Tha Bo stage of 154.2 kilometers by outsprinting fellow countrymen Cyrus Monk (FNIX - SCOM - Hengxiang Cycling Team) and Kane Richards (Roojai Insurance Winspace), who were with him as protagonists of a six-man breakaway that escaped with just under sixty kilometers remaining to the finish.

"The group that formed was made up of rather strong riders. We went away on a long stretch of highway that was initially flat and then had continuous ups and downs" explained the former Bahrain-Victorious rider after crossing the line. "In the final, my teammate Raileanu, who was racing with the objective of improving his general classification position, attacked and I was able to ride on his wheel, leaving it to the others to potentially close on him, and this clearly took a toll on their legs" Scott continued, scoring after three days in which he had sacrificed himself at length for his team leaders.

"We came here with a very fast man like Salby who, in the first two days, I tried to help to try to win a stage in a sprint, while yesterday I spent myself at the front of the group for our general classification riders working to close on the breakaway that had gotten away. The remaining days? On paper, the two stages left seem suited to fast wheels but we'll get a better idea of what to do after checking the general classification positioning of our men".

Also skillful in inserting himself into the attempt that went to contest the stage was the tenacious Alexander Konychev (China Anta - Mentech Cycling Team) who, after animating a previous two-man attack without success, had the strength and brilliance to slip into the decisive move and then close fourth in the sprint on a stage that, while not giving him the joy of victory, brought him back into the top ten of the general classification.

Like him, Cristian Raileanu also took advantage of the circumstances to make a nice leap in the standings where, thanks to the 45-second gap with which the group (led by Alexander Salby) arrived at the finish, he moved up to sixth position, 29 seconds behind Vadim Pronskiy who, with the help of all his teammates in the Terengganu Cycling Team jersey, managed to limit the damage by partially thwarting the assault on his yellow leader's jersey.

STAGE RESULTS

1. Cameron Scott (AUS/Li Ning Star) 3:11:02

2. Cyrus Monk (AUS/FNIX - SCOM - Hengxiang Cycling Team) s.t.

3. Kane Richards (AUS/Roojai Insurance Winspace) s.t.

4. Alexander Konychev (ITA/China Anta - Mentech Cycling Team) s.t.

5. Cristian Raileanu (ROM/Li Ning Star) at 2"

6. Nattapol Jumchat (Thailand Continental Cycling Team) at 7"

7. Alexander Salby (DAN/Li Ning Star) at 45"

8. Norman Vahtra (China Anta - Mentech Cycling Team) at 45"

9. Ade Meisa (Nusantara Cycling Team) at 45"

10. Māris Bogdanovičs (FNIX - SCOM - Hengxiang Cycling Team) at 45"

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Vadim Pronskiy (KAZ/Terengganu Cycling Team) - 12:08:20

2. Eduardo Sepulveda (KAZ/Li Ning Star) at 4"

3. Daniel Whitehouse (GBR/St George Continental Cycling Team) at 9"

4. Adne van Engelen (OLA/Terengganu Cycling Team) at 25"

5. Jonas Rapp (GER/FNIX - SCOM - Hengxiang Cycling Team) at 25"

6. Cristian Raileanu (ROM/Li Ning Star) at 29"

7. Luke Mudgway (NZL/Li Ning Star) at 33"

8. Athit Poulard (THA/Roojai Insurance Winspace) at 39"

9. Alexander Konychev (ITA/China Anta - Mentech Cycling Team) at 40"

10. Shoma Hayashibara (GIA/Shimano Racing Team) at 40"

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points classification: Alexander Salby (DAN/Li Ning Star)

Mountain classification: Vadim Pronskiy (KAZ/Terengganu Cycling Team)

Team classification: Li Ning Star (CIN)

Photo credit: Tour of Thailand