Guillermo Silva's last success before today dated back to July 7, 2025, when the Uruguayan rider, perhaps not by chance, won the second stage of another Chinese race, the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai. Nine months later, the XDS Astana rider has raised his arms to the sky once again, leaving his mark on another race in this nation, the Tour of Hainan, confirming that he finds himself particularly at ease with the routes, roads, and climate of this corner of Asia.
"The truth is that races here in China suit my characteristics very well. This race in particular is very special for the team, so I can only be very happy to have managed to win here" Silva admitted to our microphones before commenting on what happened in the stage he won ahead of Berasategi and Pesenti.
"The plan for the stage was the one we followed. We wanted to prevent a very large breakaway from starting, control it, and then set a medium-high pace on every climb to put fatigue in our rivals' legs before the final ascent, and there we would select the main group" explained the South American rider.
"The final kilometers were very chaotic; you had to keep a cool head and wait for the right moment. I have to thank Nico (Vinokourov, ed.) for the excellent work he did, inserting himself into the small group that broke away after the descent and putting me in the best position to go and claim this sprint victory" continued the twenty-four-year-old from Maldonado, highlighting how the team played an important role in achieving his fifth professional victory, the seventh of the season for a dangerous and winning XDS Astana with increasingly diverse winners.
"We have a very strong team, with many solid riders, where everyone has their opportunities to do well" remarked Silva who, speaking of victories, certainly doesn't want to stop now with the one obtained at the Wuzhishan finish line.
"The general classification is the team's main objective. Now we have the leader's jersey and it will be up to us to defend it: we hope to reach the fourth stage with the strength necessary to maintain it" clarified decisively the former Caja Rural rider, ready after Hainan to fine-tune his condition ahead of his career debut at the Giro d'Italia.
"I was in Sierra Nevada preparing for Hainan, and soon I'll go to Andorra to prepare for the Giro where my goal will be to fight for a stage victory" concluded the class of 2001 rider.
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