HÀ NỘI – Ariya Phounsavath won the overall yellow jersey at the HCM City Television Cycling Tournament, which wrapped up on April 30 in HCM City.

Phounsavath of VUS-HCM City won the event’s most wanted jersey with a best overall time of 47:43.35 after 20 stages. Lê Ngọc Sơn of Gạo Hạt Ngọc Trời An Giang and Nguyễn Nhật Nam of Domesco Pharmacy Đồng Tháp were the runners-up.

Phounsavath walked away with the prize worth of VNĐ 100million (US$4,350).

“This victory is like a dream because it’s the first time I participated in the tournament. My biggest joy was to receive my teammates’ support; therefore, my win is also my team’s win. During the 20 stages, especially in the latter stages, my team VUS-HCM City helped me in reaching the finishing line,” Phounsavath said.

Huỳnh Thanh Tùng of Military Zone 7 won the final stage of 168km, from Bảo Lộc City in Lâm Đồng Province to HCM City.

The green jersey award for the best sprinter went to Lê Nguyệt Minh of HCM City. The red jersey for the King of Mountain was bagged by Phan Hoàng Thái of Domesco Pharmacy Đồng Tháp, while Thái’s teammate, Nguyễn Nhật Nam won the white jersey for the best young cyclist.

The event’s organising board also presented the most impressive cyclist award to Loic Desriac of team Bike Life Đồng Nai. 

In the team rankings, Domesco Pharmacy Đồng Tháp took the lead, followed by VUS-HCM City and Gạo Hạt Ngọc Trời An Giang.

According to Nguyễn Thị Thu, vice chairwoman of HCM City People’s Committee, the HCM City Television Cycling Tournament is a traditional sporting event of the city, held to celebrate southern Liberation Day (April 30).

Seventy-eight cyclists from 13 teams competed across 20 stages, totalling 2,000km, during the event, which offers the largest prize pool in Vietnamese cycling history -- VNĐ1.2 billion (S$52,200). – VNS