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Champion System's Zach Bell out-sprinted 10 fellow breakaway riders Friday to win Stage 6 of the Tour de Korea after the perfect lead-out from teammate Chun Kai Feng, who regained the lead in the King of the Mountains Classification.

 

"I'm so happy to win today; I'm over the moon," Bell said of his second victory of the season (his first came at Stage 4 of the Tour de Taiwan in March). "This race would not have been possible without the amazing work of my teammates. I am climbing great right now, and I knew that with the motivation of the group and Kai's awesome teamwork that the win was possible."

Runner-up in the Stage 5 Team Time Trial, Champion System was in it from the beginning of the 184.7-kilometer stage. When a large group escaped, Bell and Feng fought to join. Feng, who wore the KOM jersey following Stage 2, was third over the first categorized climb and first on the second categorized climb.

With just 2 km remaining, Feng took control of the break - which had more than a 3-minute advantage on the peloton - and nullified any attacks. He provided a textbook lead-out for Bell, and the 2-time UCI Track World Champs Omnium runner-up took off for the line with a sprint on his SST that bested 10 other riders seeking the W.

"Zach is riding at such a high level, it is a pleasure to watch," Champion System Assistant Director Chris Wherry said. "I couldn't be happier for him today. He really deserved the win. Everyone rode amazingly, and they executed the plan perfectly."

"Kai regaining the KOM jersey was icing on the cake," Wherry added. "I don't want to down play his efforts in any way because he has been in almost every breakaway this week. He really is riding awesomely."

Feng finished 9th and is currently the team's best-placed rider in the GC at 11th, 3:20 behind.

"I was very happy to take the KOM jersey back, and I hope to fight for it again tomorrow," Feng said. "The team rode great today and I was happy to help Zach win. I learned a lot from him today."
The eight-day race continues Saturday with a 145.1-km stage that features two categorized climbs before finishing in Hongcheon.


9/10/2013