/ 8 February 1999

LOUBSER IN CONTENTION

KOSIE LOUBSER stunned the big guns of professional cycling with a superb performance on an intense fifth day of the Tour de Langkawi from Kuala Lumpur to Port Dickson on Sunday that saw the South African step up a notch to third overall on general classification. Loubser is within striking distance of top-class riders like American Frank McCormack of the professional Saturn outfit and seasoned Tour de France campaigner Italian Andrea Tafi of Mapei. McCormack has the leader’s yellow jersey, and Loubser is only 32 seconds behind him overall. “I feel good,” said the Pretorian after the stage. “I don’t think I’ve been fitter than I am right now.”