Dane wins Tour of Thailand

BANGKOK: Peterson Solen from Denmark won the Tour of Thailand 2002 in Bangkok yesterday and his team, Giant Asian Racing, took the first four places. Solen was followed home by fellow team riders Iratov Damir from Uzbekistan and Sergey Derevyanov of Kazakstan. Another Uzbeki rider, Kahramon Mominov, crossed the line second on the day, but placed fourth overall in the tour. The first Thai cyclist home was Prajak Mahawong of the Royal Thai Police, in eighth place. Solen won 100,000 baht, with 50,000 baht and 30,000 baht handed out for second and third places. Giant Asian Racing is based in Taiwan. Thai women dominated the Elite Women’s category, sweeping the top four in yesterday’s finish. Chanpeng Nontasin crossed the line first, being followed home by Monrudee Chapookum and her sister Pornnapa Oupachakum, with Yuwadee Chan-In in fourth and Dahlina Rosyida of Indonesia in fifth. China’s Xu Gang outclassed the rest among the Junior Men and was followed by Hong Kongers Lam Kai Tsun and Wu Kin San. Royal Air Force Capt Chartchai Chantarat, a former Thai national cyclist, won the Men’s Over 40, ahead of Singaporeans Hong Kim Chea and Richard Tann.