The 2025 Tour of Magnificent Qinghai opens under the banner of Manuel Peñalver. At the finish line of the Xining city circuit, the Spanish rider from Polti-VisitMalta demonstrated his full power and, after a very tight sprint, prevailed over Eduard Grosu (Huansheng - Vonoa - Taishan Sport Team) and Alexander Salby (Li Ning Star), thus conquering the first leader's jersey of the race.

THE RACE REPORT. After noting the non-starts of Ziga Horvat (FNIX - SCOM - Hengxiang Cycling Team) and Igor Chzhan (China Anta - Mentech Cycling Team), the race saw Vadim Pronskiy (Terengganu Cycling Team), Nejc Komac (Factor Team), Edison Alejandro Callejas (Petrolike), Arda Tekirdag (Istanbul Buyuksehir), Timofei Ivanov (Chengdu DYC Cycling Team) and Hasan Seyfollahifard (Tianyoude Hotel Cycling Team) break away after a few kilometers. The six, monitored from a distance by the group, managed to build up to a 4'40" advantage before the pace increased at the head of the peloton and the gap slowly began to shrink. The breakaway riders still had time to contest the first two mountain points (won by Seyfollahifard and Ivanov) and the first two intermediate sprints (won in order by Ivanov, Komac). After these milestones, with 50km to go, the peloton's disadvantage dropped below a minute. With pursuers breathing down their necks, Romac tried to give new life to the breakaway by accelerating with Ivanov and Pronskiy, but Li Ning and Quick Pro adjusted their pace and continued their relentless approach.

After the third intermediate sprint of the day won by Komac, the Slovenian from Factor Team insisted on a solo move, which allowed him to lead the race until the penultimate of the 9 scheduled laps when, inevitably, the group caught up with him. Just after being caught, his teammate Marolt counterattacked and remained a few kilometers ahead with a 20" advantage before being reeled in with 9km to go. As predicted, the race came down to a sprint where Peñalver, after finding the right space and taking the lead, resisted Grosu's comeback and delivered the second seasonal victory to Polti-VisitMalta (the first was the Maltese championship won by Buttigieg), a success of considerable specific weight for the Italian team considering the fight for the UCI top 30 ranking in which they are and will be involved until the end of the year.

Regarding Italians, noteworthy is the sixth place overall of Attilio Viviani (Solution Tech-Vini Fantini), the only Italian to finish in the top ten on the first day of the race.

FINISH ORDER

1. Peñalver Manuel (SPA/Team Polti VisitMalta) 2:31:37

2. Grosu Eduard-Michael (ROM/Huansheng - Vonoa - Taishan Sport Team) s.t.

3. Salby Alexander (DAN/Li Ning Star) s.t.

4. Fernández Miguel Ángel (SPA/Equipo Kern Pharma) s.t.

5. Pita Cristian David (ECU/Huansheng - Vonoa - Taishan Sport Team) s.t.

6. Viviani Attilio Team (ITA/Solution Tech - Vini Fantini) s.t.

7. Peñuela Francisco Joel (SPA/Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) s.t.

8. Prieto José Antonio (MES/Petrolike) s.t.

9. Macias Cesar (MES/Petrolike) s.t.

10. Mulubrhan Henok (ERI/XDS Astana Team) s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Peñalver Manuel (SPA/Team Polti VisitMalta) 2:31:37

2. Nejc Komac Nejc (SLO/Factor Team) at 3"

3. Grosu Eduard-Michael (ROM/Huansheng - Vonoa - Taishan Sport Team) at 4"

4. Ivanov Timofei (RUS/Chengdu DYC Cycling Team) at 4"

5. Salby Alexander (DAN/Li Ning Star) at 6"

6. Seyfollahifard Hasan (IRA/Tianyoude Hotel Cycling Team) at 7"

7. Pronskiy Vadim (KAZ/Terengganu Cycling Team) at 8"

8. Fernández Miguel Ángel (SPA/Equipo Kern Pharma) at 10"

9. Pita Cristian David (ECU/Huansheng - Vonoa - Taishan Sport Team) at 10"

10. Viviani Attilio Team (ITA/Solution Tech - Vini Fantini) at 10"

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points Classification: Peñalver Manuel (SPA/Team Polti VisitMalta)

Mountain Classification: Ivanov Timofei (RUS/Chengdu DYC Cycling Team)

Team Classification: Petrolike (MES)