Lê Nguyệt Minh celebrates after crossing the finish line. Photo courtesy of Cycling News

HÀ NỘI — Lê Nguyệt Minh of HCM City-VUS won the second stage of the national Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa-VOH Cup cycling race yesterday.

Minh, a member of the national team, finished first with a time of 2hr 53.50min over 114km from Svay Rieng through Prey Veng to Phnom Penh in Cambodia.

He was followed by Lê Ngọc Sơn of Lộc Trời Group and Trần Tuấn Kiệt from Domesco Đồng Tháp.

Javier Sarda Perez of HCM City-VUS was not in the top 20 finishers but he retained the yellow jersey for best overall time after two stages with a total of 5:10.16. He also holds the green jersey for top point scorer with 30.

Nguyễn Văn Dương (Lộc Trời Group) and Nguyễn Nhật Nam (Domesco Đồng Tháp) were close behind.

Perez's team topped the team’s ranking, while Lộc Trời Group and Domesco Đồng Tháp were second and third, respectively.

Lê Văn Duẩn of VUS suffered a broken collarbone after falling 10km after the start. He was sent to a local hospital and then flew to Việt Nam yesterday for surgery.

The third stage will be from Phnom Penh to Kampongcham across 124km.

The tournament includes nearly 60 athletes competing in eight stages on nearly 1,000km, which span from Việt Nam to Cambodia and Laos. It is the first time the 22-year-old event has run outside Việt Nam.

It will end on November 1 with the yellow jersey holder walking away with VNĐ80 million (US$3,500), the green jersey winner VNĐ40 million and the winning team VNĐ60 million. VNS