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Reigning Tour de France champ Jonas Vingegaard takes Singapore Criterium race

Jonas Vingegaard raises his hands in triumph as he crosses the line to win the inaugural Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium race. (PHOTO: Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium)
Jonas Vingegaard raises his hands in triumph as he crosses the line to win the inaugural Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium race. (PHOTO: Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium)

SINGAPORE — They brought undeniable star power to the inaugural Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium.

On Sunday (30 October), Jonas Vingegaard, Chris Froome and Vincenzo Nibali - with six Tour de France titles among them - also brought substance to Marina Bay with their 1-2-3 finish in the professional criterium race that served as the finale of the two-day cycling event at The Float@Marina Bay.

The trio were part of a five-man group with Simon Geschke and Enric Mas that pushed ahead of the main peloton with two laps to go in the 20-lap race. With the crowd cheering them on from the stands of The Float, it was reigning Tour de France champion Vingegaard who powered ahead in the final 400m to clinch first place in 1hr 19min 47sec.

Four-time Tour de France champion Froome was second, just pipping 2014 winner Nibali with a final burst to the finish line.

“It was actually a very hard race in the end, luckily I was in the final breakaway," said Vingegaard following his win. "I thought that maybe it would’ve been a sprint in the end, but I got away and I managed to win.

"It’s been a great season, to be in yellow in July and still in yellow here, I’m very happy about the season. It’s very hot here and also very humid, and in the end I handled it quite well. I also think my teammates did a good job today.”

Riders cycling past city landmarks during the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium race. (PHOTO: Amaury Sport Organisation)
Riders cycling past city landmarks during the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium race. (PHOTO: Amaury Sport Organisation)

Full day of cycling fun along Marina Bay

With the streets around Padang and Marina Centre closed for the event, cycling fans enjoyed a full day of races along the 3.2-kilometre street circuit.

The day kicked off with the amateur criterium races, which featured three categories: men’s masters (six laps), men’s senior (eight laps), and women’s open (four laps).

Matthew Brittain of Matador Racing was the first winner of the day, emerging victorious in the men’s masters race in 25min 39sec. National cyclists Luqmanul Hakim Othman (37:16) and Elizabeth Liau (19:16) won the men’s senior and women’s open respectively.

The community also got to enjoy the circuit through the Brompton Community Ride, with some of them dressed in costumes of choice as they rode through the circuit.

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