BATU PAHAT: Going against the norm paid off in spades for Equipo Kern Pharma’s Nil Gimeno Ferrer as he captured his first professional stage win at Stage 7 of the 30th Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) yesterday.

While a bunch sprint was widely anticipated to conclude the 158.9km penultimate stage from Melaka to Batu Pahat, Gimeno initiated an early breakaway alongside six other riders.