Ngul Lech took top honours in Sunday’s elite class race as a field of 125 riders powered across the rugged trails of Kep in the second round of the 2013 Smart Cambodia Mountain Bike Series.

The 22-year-old Flying Bikes rider finally topped the podium after grabbing the runners-up spot at the previous round held at Phnom Penh’s Silk Island on April 21 as well as coming in second in the Thansur Bokor Challenge in Kampot earlier this month.

Ngul Lech completed all seven laps of the course in a time of 51 minutes 57 seconds, 12 seconds ahead of his team-mate and race organiser Pierre-Yves Catry. Hong Chanmakara of Off-road Cycling finished third on 53:49.

In Sunday afternoon’s other races, national road race champion and Mekong Cycling Team rider Meas Samnang won the over-30s elite class, while 18-year-old Hun Ponlok of EYC triumphed in the intermediate class.

Sunday morning saw five events ride out. 14-year-old Giant rider Keo Nam outclassed his older opponents in the novice 14-18 class race, while Pot Sarath rode fastest in the novice 19-39 class.

The event for over-40 novices was won by Tony Maling of Mondulkiri Adventures and the women’s title was captured by Jolanda Swetsloot, who switched places with runner-up Flying Bikes’ Heng Siv Lang from their results in Kampot.

The kids competition heralded a fine performance by Thim So Thun of Mekong Cycling Team, who came home comfortably ahead of the other eight cyclists.

The series now heads back to the capital for its third round of five at Prek Leap on June 9.