Teen cyclist Kiho Choi of Hong Kong made history by winning the 2011 Tour de Korea after completing the nine-stage race, a total distance of 1,335.9 kilometers, on Sunday.

Choi, 19, had a sluggish start. He finished fourth in the first stage of 108.1 kilometers by clocking 2 hours 39 minutes 5 seconds. He remained in fifth place until the third stage.

But the 2010 Asian Games medalist laid the foundation for his victory in the seventh stage, finishing fifth, just 13 seconds behind the leader.

He improved his overall position to the top spot with a cumulative time of 32 hours 57 minutes 20 seconds in the eighth stage to claim victory.

Tour de Korea, the country’s biggest cycling competition, has successfully grown into a premier race in Asia. In its fifth year, it has attracted more than 200 professional riders across the world, along with another 200 amateur riders. The 2011 Tour de Korea, which offered a total prize of $80,000, kicked off in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province on April 15 and finished at Olympic Park in Seoul on Sunday.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)