Brajkovic, Cink top Bahrain riders

Manama : Bahrain’s Merida Pro Cycling Team rider Janez Brajkovic (Slovenia) came in 52nd place in four hours nine minutes 34 seconds and teammate Ondrej Cink (Czech Republic) in 54th with the same time yesterday after completing the mountainous eighth stage of the 104th Tour de France from Dole to Station Des Rousses in the Jura Mountains over 187.5km.

Brajkovic and Cink were nine minutes and 34 minutes behind the stage winner Frenchman Lilian Calmejane of the Direct Energie team who completed the distance in four hours 30 minutes and 29 seconds, as the remaining 193 riders completed the course.

The other six Bahrain riders classified were - Tsgabu Grmay (104th, Ethiopia, +20:56), Javier Moreno (124th, Spain, +20:56), Grega Bole (135th, Slovenia, +27:49), Yukiya Arashiro (143rd, Japan, +31:34), Sonny Colbrelli (160th, Italy, +31:34) and Borut Bozic (164th, Slovenia, +31:34). 

The tour began with 22 teams comprising 198 riders racing 21 stages over 3,540km in varying terrains such as flat courses, hills and the mountains, with the final stage on 23 July covering 103km over a flat course from Montgeron to the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Today the ninth stage is again in the mountains taking the remaining (193) riders from Nantua to Chambery over 181.5km. 

Bahrain Merida Classifications Positions:

40. J Brajkovic (SLO, 13 minutes 17 seconds) 

50. O Cink (CZE, +16:08)

120. T Grmay (ETH, +41:26)

124. J Moreno (ESP, +42:09)

135. Y Arashiro (JPN, +45:40) 

138. G Bole (SLO, +46:17)

140. S Colbrelli (ITA, +46:49) 

179. B Bozic (SLO, +58:11)