Iran's Ghader Mizbani Iranagh wins Tour of Taiwan cycle race

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Iran's Ghader Mizbani Iranagh won the eight-stage Tour of Taiwan bicycle race on Wednesday, while Taiwan's Giant Asia Racing finished first in the team competition.

Mizbani Iranagh, who rides for Giant Asia, successfully preserved his lead of more than seven minutes during a flat 75-kilometer (46-mile) criterium -- or lap race -- in Taiwan's second-largest city, Kaohsiung.

He took over the leader's yellow jersey Tuesday when he blew open the tight tour with a solo breakaway on central Taiwan's Jade Mountain -- the event's most grueling stage.

The Iranian finished the tour in 23 hours, 3 minutes and 10 seconds. Germany's Juergen Kottula -- of the Merida Germany Team _ trailed by 7:26 after giving up the yellow jersey on Tuesday. Third place belonged to Kazakhstan's Mikhail Andreyev, of Dinamo-Alatau Team, who finished with 23:12.22.

"We didn't attack today. We just sat and controlled the group," Mizbani Iranagh said about Wednesday's stage.

"It was a good tour, but there was one problem," he said. "There's too much traffic in Taiwan and the roads are too small."

Last year's winner Wong Kam Po, of the Hong Kong China Team, finished ninth in the general classification with 23:26.41. Wong missed his best opportunity to take over the tour Tuesday, after choosing not to join an early breakaway with Mizbani Iranagh, and failing to narrow the gap.

Wong also lost the King of the Mountain jersey awarded to the best climbers. He had to settle for second, while Mizbani Iranagh grabbed the honor.

Giant Asia Racing, sponsored by Taiwan's biggest bike maker Merida Germany, was first in the team category. Another team backed by Merida finished second. Third went to Kazakhstan's Dinamo-Alatau.

The final stage was won by Austria's Martin Comploi of Merida Germany. He crossed the line in 1:13.53, beating his German teammate Tobias Erler in a photo finish. Australia's Edmund Hollands of Giant Asia Racing finished third with 1:13.55.