Le Tour de Langkawi - Stage 7 Finish Photos
Finish in Kuantan marred by a crash - Photos of the finish and quick results. Mitchell Docker takes Yellow.

Surprise win for the Belarus-born Usov was the result of a frantic sprint to the end in which Mauro Abel Richeze (CSF Group/Navigare) was penalized for causing the crash. Richeze received a 60 Swiss franc fine, a 30-second penalty, deduction of 30 points and was relegated to last spot on the stage.

Usov avoided the crash passing on the right of Danilo Hondo and Alberto Loddo as they fell and slid across the road.

A jubilant Usov, who was grinning from ear to ear at the press conference afterwards, completed the gruelling 126.6-kilometre race in 2:52:56. Mizan Hassan Maleki of the Islamic Azad University finished second just escaping the crash as he led the peloton in the final 30 meters while Takashi Miyazawa of Meitan Hompo came in third.

Click on Photos for a larger image.

Danila Hondo (Serramenti PVC) goes down first with Alberto Loddo (Tinkoff Credit Systems) not far behind... Usov steers to his right to avoid the melee.  Photo © 2008 Action Images

The scene at the finish was ugly! Hondo falls hard on his right shoulder and Loddo cartwheels about to hit the asphalt as Maleki teeters trying to gain control and avoiding a crash and Usov on the left moves to the right for a clear shot at the finish line. Photo © 2008 Action Images

The carnage continues in the last 25 meters - Mizan Hassan Maleki (IAU Islamic Azad University) recovers control... as Loddo topples on his left shoulder and Loddo slides... Photo © 2008 Action Images

Hondo continues to slide on his right shoulder as Alexander Usov (AG2R La Mondiale) survives the crash riddled sprint passing Maleki on the right to take the stage victory with Takahashi to the left in for third place. Photo © 2008 Action Images

Danila Hondo (Serramenti PVC) walks to the medical tent holding his shoulder. Photo © 2008 Action Images

Complete results, report and more photos to follow...

Alexandre Usov - Bittersweet victory: "The crash influenced the final result and I must admit that I came in first without expecting it. Had it been a normal sprint finish, I would not have won it," said the 31-year-old Usov. Photo © 2008 Action Images

Stage 7 - Kuala Rompin - Kuantan Result (top ten)
1 71 BLR Usov,Alexandre ALM AG2R La Mondiale 2h52'56"
2 163 IRI Maleki,Mizan Hassan IAU Islamic Azad University 2h52'56"
3 144 JPN Miyazawa,Takashi EQA Meitan Hompo - GDR 2h52'56"
4 63 SUI Clerc,Aurelien BTL Bouygues Telecom 2h52'56"
5 2 FRA Hinault,Sebastien C.A Credit Agricole 2h52'56"
6 112 ITA Corsini,Marco NGC NGC Medical - OTC 2h52'56"
7 111 ITA Rossi,Enrico NGC NGC Medical - OTC 2h52'56"
8 132 AUS Dempster,Zakkari SAI SouthAustralia.Com - AIS 2h52'56"
9 136 AUS Walker,Johnnie SAI SouthAustralia.Com - AIS 2h52'56"
10 76 BEL Vandenbergh,Stijn ALM AG2R La Mondiale 2h52'56"

Mitchell Docker steps into the leaders jersey turning the tables on Matthieu Sprick on the day before the main challenge in the tour. "We failed to take the jersey two days ago but now that we are successful, the ride into the mountains tomorrow (on Stage Eight to Fraser's Hill), will be tough. It is good for the team that we have the yellow at this time though." Photo © 2008 Action Images

General Classification after Stage 7
1 213 AUS Docker,Mitchell DPC Drapac Porsche 26h36'10"
2 65 FRA Sprick,Matthieu BTL Bouygues Telecom 26h36'12" @02"
3 92 ESP Cesar,Gustavo KGZ Karpin Galicia 26h36'15" @05"
4 114 ITA Nosotti,Diego NGC NGC Medical - OTC 26h36'16" @06"
5 101 AUS Wilson,Matt TT1 Team Type 1 26h36'18" @08"
6 173 AUS Sulzberger,Bernard L2A Letua Cycling Team 26h36'18" = s/t
7 191 KOR Park,Sung Baek SCT Seoul Cycling 26h36'19" @09"
8 16 VEN Rodriguez,Jackson SDA Serramenti PVC 26h36'19" = s/t
9 221 NZL Yates,Jeremy NZL New Zealand N.T. 26h36'19" = s/t
10 143 JPN Fukushima,Shinichi EQA Meitan Hompo - GDR 26h36'20" @10"

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