The Huzhu stage once again speaks Uruguayan, following Eric Fagundez's victory in 2024, this year seeing another representative from the South American nation, Guillermo Silva, triumph in the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai.

The Caja Rural-Seguros RGA rider, a professional since last year, won the second stage with a finish in the Chinese locality, beating Ecuadorian Jonathan Caicedo (Petrolike) in a two-man sprint after they had previously gained an advantage in the final part of the race.

The peloton, arriving just a moment after the two attackers, was led by Henok Mulubrhan (XDS-Astana), with Giovanni Carboni (Unibet Tietema Rockets) and Ludovico Crescioli (Polti-VisitMalta) both placing in the top 10 with their 6th and 9th positions respectively.

Thanks to this success, Silva also conquered the overall leadership, now holding a 5-second advantage over Caicedo and 8 seconds over Mulubrhan.

THE RACE REPORT. Right from the start, after just five kilometers, the day's breakaway managed to escape. It was composed of Adam Bradac and Nejc Komac (Factor Team), Cyrus Monk (FNIX - SCOM - Hengxiang Cycling Team), Petros Mengs (Istanbul Büyükșehir Belediye Spor Türkiye), Yauhen Sobal (Chengdu DYC Cycling Team) and Simon Pellaud (Li Ning Star), who reached a maximum advantage of 4'10" at the foot of the first climb of the day, the Hors Categorie Beishan Yakou. Here, Monks, Komac, and Bradac lost the wheels of their companions, and shortly after, Sobal could not keep up with Pellaud and Mengs, who remained alone at the front with a 3'35" margin over the peloton. At the 3,371-meter summit, the Swiss Li Ning Star rider crossed first and then, taking advantage of the sprint momentum, decided to push ahead solo. Leveraging his descending skills and superior engine, the Swiss rider managed to create a two-minute gap from the first chasers and almost three minutes from the group, which would later absorb the remaining riders in the valley.

With 3'25" to recover from the leader, XDS Astana took the front of the group, setting a steady pace that gradually ate away the fugitive's advantage until inevitably catching him 40 kilometers from the finish. The Kazakh team maintained control of the peloton in the following kilometers, with their teammates working to thin out the group, and Mulubrhan attempting a decisive attack. About fifteen riders followed his move, including Jordi Lopez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), who tried to push ahead approaching the day's final mountain grand prix. However, the Spaniard's move was minimal, and in the subsequent descent, about twenty riders regrouped, among them Jonathan Caicedo (Petrolike) and Guillermo Silva (Caja Rural), who counterattacked together.

Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Mario Aparicio (Burgos-BH) tried to bridge across but were quickly reabsorbed. The chasers regrouped and pursued the two attackers, who, despite a very slim margin, managed to stubbornly resist the group's return in the final 10 kilometers, ultimately sprinting for the victory, which Silva won by leveraging his superior sprint.

In this way, all the day's favorites and big names were thwarted, forced to finish in the wake of the two courageous riders. Caja Rural (at their sixth seasonal victory) and the native of Maldonado (at his third 2025 success) celebrate, who from tomorrow will need to dig deep with their legs and tactical brilliance to defend the yellow jersey now on the shoulders of the Uruguayan national champion.

FINISH ORDER

1. Silva Guillermo Thomas (URU/Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) 3:36:05

2. Caicedo Jonathan Klever (ECU/Petrolike) at 1"

3. Mulubrhan Henok (ERI/XDS Astana Team) at 2"

4. Barceló Fernando (SPA/Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) at 3"

5. Serrano Javier (SPA/Team Polti VisitMalta) at 3"

6. Carboni Giovanni (ITA/Unibet Tietema Rockets) at 3"

7. De Rossi Lucas (FRA/China Anta - Mentech Cycling Team) at 3"

8. Cobo Iván (SPA/Equipo Kern Pharma) at 3"

9. Crescioli Ludovico (ITA/Team Polti VisitMalta) at 3"

10. Soto Antonio Jesús (SPA/Equipo Kern Pharma) at 3"

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Silva Guillermo Thomas (URU/Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) 3:36:05

2. Caicedo Jonathan Klever (ECU/Petrolike) at 5"

3. Mulubrhan Henok (ERI/XDS Astana Team) at 8"

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points Classification: Mulubrhan Henok (ERI/XDS Astana Team)

Mountain Classification: Pellaud Simon (SUI/Li Ning Star)

To be updated.