By Arman Armero

SHAH ALAM, Malaysia?Mattia Gavazzi of defending champion Diuigiovanni-Androni outsprinted Aurelien Clerc of Ag2r La Mondiale and Chris Sutton of Garmin Slipstream in a furious race to the finish to win the Batang Kali-Shah Alam Stage 6 in the Le Tour de Langkawi.

Overshadowed by teammate Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez in the Petaling Jaya-Genting Highlands Stage 5 on Friday, the 25-year-old Italian was back in his element in the relatively flat journey spanning 147.6 kilometers and completed the stage in three hours, 7 minutes and 33 seconds with 48 other riders. Still, he had to work double time to chase a series of breakaway riders in the last 32 kilometers.

Gavazzi, who clinched his fourth stage win here, thus kept his hold on the green jersey for the Best Sprinter honors, even as Perez, a native of Bucaramanga, Colombia, held on to the yellow jersey after keeping pace with the main peloton up until the finish line.

Perez also put a lock on the King of the Mountain title as the riders had an easy climb in Bukit Badong, before going down halfway into the race.

?It was a difficult race from the start. We had to chase the breakaway riders when they made their move just 40 kilometers after the start. Luckily, we caught with them before they can pull away in the last 30 kilometers,? said Gavazzi.

In winning the stage, Gavazzi gave his team its 20th stage win since it first won in 2000. Diquigiovanni-Androni also practically won team honors with an aggregate clocking of 68:41.16, with the Australian National Team a far second with 68:21:35.

Fuji Servetto is third with 68:25.35, Cervelo Test Team is fourth with 68:25.55, while Garmin Slipstream is fifth with 68:29.30.