French rider Barbier, who also won Tuesday’s opening stage, sped up from behind during the last 100 metres to cross the finish line in first place with a time of 3:19.58 hours. The Terengganu Cycling Team rider leads the overall standings with a time of 5:40.10 hours, reports the Bangkok Post.
The second stage started from Naga Fireball Viewpoint in Phon Phisai district and finished at the Nong Khai Main Stadium.
Barbier was also awarded 10 bonus points for claiming the green jersey in the best sprinters classification, taking his total to 32 points.
Dane Alexander Salby of Li-Ning Star Team came second and picked up six bonus points while Thai rider Athit of Roojai Insurance Winspace finished third and got four bonus points. The Thai rider was the stage’s best ASEAN rider, taking the purple jersey.
Another Thai rider, Nati Samansanti, of Grant Thornton Cycling Team finished the race in ninth place.
“I am happy with my performance after the first two days. I will do my best in the remaining stages. I think the biggest threat will come from Li-Ning Star Team and Terengganu Cycling Team,” said Athit, who is one of Thailand’s medal hopefuls at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, later this year.
Peerapol Chawchiangkwang, who was the best ASEAN rider during the first stage, finished 61st yesterday but the Thailand Continental Cycling Team rider remains second in the overall Best ASEAN Rider category after the two stages.
Kim Euro from LX Cycling Team won the stage’s intermediate sprint while Malaysia Pro Cycling Team claimed the Best ASEAN team award with the total time of 9:59.54 hours.
Today’s third stage starts from Nong Khai and finishs in Nong Saeng with a total distance of 141.60km.