The Tour of Magnificent Qinghai continues to deliver surprises. As in previous stages, the penultimate stage ending in Haiyan was won by an almost unpronounceable name, with Russian Petr Rikunov from the Chengdu DYC Cycling Team raising his arms to the sky.

The 1997-born former Gazprom-Rusvelo rider outsprinted Enrico Zanoncello (VF Group-Bardiani-CSF Faizan) and Henok Mulubrhan, achieving his first professional victory. The Eritrean from XDS-Astana, unlike the Italian, consoled himself by taking the new yellow jersey of the general classification from Guillermo Silva (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), thanks to time bonuses.

THE RACE. At the start from Gonghe, Cameron Scott (CCACHE x Bodywrap), Li Chaoyi (Chengdu), and Martijn Budding (Unibet Tietema Rockets) did not start, leaving 127 riders in the race with two stages to go. Many riders lost contact in the initial kilometers of the first mountain grand prix, where climbers tried to break away. After an initial unsuccessful attempt by 11 riders including polka jersey Simon Pellaud (Li Ning Star), the successful breakaway was formed by Luca Covili (VF Group Bardiani CSF Faizan), Giovanni Carboni (Unibet Tietema Rockets), Adne van Engelen (Terengganu), and Petros Mengs (Istanbul Büyükșehir Belediye Spor Türkiye). Andrei Stepanov (Chengdu DYC Cycling Team) and Marton Dina (Euskaltel-Euskadi) later joined them, but they, along with van Engelen and Mengs, couldn't keep up with the two Italians who extended their lead and passed first in both the first and third category mountain primes (Covili winning both times ahead of Carboni). Behind them, De Bod (Terengganu), Diego Uriarte (Equipo Kern Pharma), and Lucas De Rossi (China Anta-Mentech Cycling Team) tried to move, but were quickly reabsorbed by the group that, at high speed, approached the two Italians until catching them with 75 km to go. Cyrus Monk (FNIX - SCOM - Hengxiang Cycling Team) and Charles Pages (Unibet Tietema Rockets) attempted a timid acceleration, but under the push of Caja Rural riders, their breakaway was short-lived. After a brief acceleration by Unibet that momentarily surprised yellow jersey Silva, the group remained compact, contesting the Jinsha Bay intermediate sprint (1st Alleno ahead of Callejas and Garcia). A new inconclusive attack by Pages sparked a series of attacks and counter-attacks that significantly increased the group's animosity. However, no one managed to make a difference, and so all riders contested the time bonuses at the Dayu Tribe intermediate sprint (1st Miguel Fernandez ahead of Garcia and Mulubrhan, who gained 1" in the general classification) and then at the finish in Haiyan, where in the final meters Rikunov beat a strong Zanoncello, celebrating his first professional victory.

Behind them, with the 4" bonus (5" total including the third sprint), Mulubrhan overtook Silva in the general classification with one stage to go and tomorrow, defending his slim one-second lead with his teammates' support, he could repeat his victory in the Chinese race he first won ten years ago. Defending, or even trying to improve his position, will also be the task of Alex Tolio (VF Group Bardiani CSF Faizan), still 6th in the classification, and Ludovico Crescioli (Polti-VisitMalta), tenth in both the stage and the overall standings.

ZANONCELLO'S DISAPPOINTMENT. The second place in Haiyan is clearly bitter for Enrico Zanoncello, who was passed in the very last meters by the day's winner, coming very close to achieving the personal breakthrough he's been missing since April of last year. "I'm very disappointed because I had marked this stage," said the 27-year-old from VF Group Bardiani CSF Faizan. "With my teammates' help, I climbed the hills well, then the sprint seemed perfect, there was perhaps a bit too much headwind, and Rikunov jumped me in the last three meters. Tomorrow? I have no problem mixing it up with pure sprinters. I would have been happy to win today, but we'll try again tomorrow."

STAGE RESULTS

1. Rikunov Petr (RUS/Chengdu DYC Cycling Team) 3:04:46

2. Silva Guillermo Thomas (URU/Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) s.t.

3. Mulubrhan Henok (ERI/XDS Astana Team)

4. Gate Aaron (NZL/ XDS Astana Team) s.t.

5. Grosu Eduard Michael (ROM/Petrolike) s.t.

6. Serrano Javier (SPA/Polti-VisitMalta) s.t.

7. Silva Guillermo Thomas (URU/Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) at 3"

8. Fernandez Miguel (SPA/Equipo Kern Pharma) at 15"

9. Pronskiy Vadim (KAZ/Terengganu Cycling Team) at 15"

10. Crescioli Ludovico (ITA/Polti-VisitMalta) at 15"

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Silva Guillermo Thomas (URU/Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) 27:40:18

2. Mulubrhan Henok (ERI/XDS Astana Team) at 1"

3. Lopez Harold Martin (ECU/XDS Astana Team) at 20"

4. Callejas Edison Alejandro (COL/Petrolike) at 23"

5. Agirre Jon (SPA/Euskaltel-Euskadi) at 25"

6. Tolio Alex (ITA/VF Group Bardiani-CSF-Faizan) at 25"

7. Caicedo Jonathan Klever (ECU/Petrolike) at 32"

8. Alleno Clement (FRA/Burgos-Burpellet-BH) at 34"

9. Soto Antonio Jesus (SPA/Equipo Kern Pharma) at 40"

10. Crescioli Ludovico (ITA/Team Polti VisitMalta) at 40"

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points Classification: Silva Guillermo Thomas (URU/Caja Rural - Seguros RGA)

Mountain Classification: Agirre Jon (SPA/Euskaltel-Euskadi)

Team Classification: XDS Astana Team (KAZ)

Photo Credit: Adrian Hoe - Tour of Magnificent Qinghai