Platt turns the table on Stander

Schneitter remains dominant

Amidst the tropical splendour and the traditional haven of Kampung Tok Senik Resort nestled in the heart of Kuah, Germany's Karl Platt turned the tables on South Africa's Burry Stander with an emphatic stage 2 win in the Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge 2011. Nathalie Schneitter won the women's stage and retained her overall lead.

Platt's bullish effort in the Olympic distance cross country helped him finish the race two minutes ahead of stage 1 winner Stander of South Africa.

"I recovered well from yesterday's race and adopted a cautious approach, but having tested the course earlier, I knew what to expect," said Platt. "I knew it was going to be tough. I practically sat on the bike for the first few laps before upping the tempo in the second round."

"I must congratulate the organisers, the Langkawi guys, for putting up a very good course today, a lot of tight singletrack and switchbacks that required good technique," said 33-year old Platt, a three-time Cape Epic champion.

The Team Bulls rider clocked 1:30.27, followed by South African champion Stander (1:32.25) and Johnny Cattaneo (Italy - Full-Dynamix) (1:32.58). The win for Platt came with a USD$450 cash prize.

Women

In the women's elite category, Swiss rider Nathalie Schneitter grabbed her second consecutive stage win as she blew her opponents away on the same course, reaching the finish line with a six-minute advantage.

The 25-year-old, a member of the Swiss team that bagged the silver medal in the cross country mountain bike world championship team relay last month, covered the six-lap race of 4.7km per lap in one hour, 53 minutes and four seconds. Second was Jodie Willet from Australia and third Schneitter's teammate, Vivienne Meyer.

"I'm pleased to earn a precious 30 points in my bid to qualify for the Olympic Games. The course was interesting and I rode much to my strength," said Schneitter.

"Having had a good rest after the stage 1 win yesterday, I entered the race today with the right frame of mind. What I will do next is to take a break and go to the beach before thinking of stage 3," said the Colnago Fabre Sudtirol cyclist who took home USD$960  for her two successive wins so far.

From the 27 riders at flag-off today, only eight were classified as official finishers.

Stage 3, a cross country multi-lap race, will take place at Telaga Harbour in Pantai Kok.

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Stage 2 winner Karl Platt of Germany leads South Africa's Burry Stander

Photo: © Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge