One year later, it is still Alexander Salby who conquers the final stage of the Tour of Hainan. Still in Sanya but at a different finish line compared to 2025, the Danish sprinter from Li Ning Star got the better of Dusan Rajovic (Solution Tech NIPOO Rali) and Norman Vahtra (China Anta Mentech Cycling), finishing once again in the best possible way the short Chinese stage race.

Along with the Scandinavian speedster, Guillermo Silva also celebrated, who, without any concerns during the concluding 156 kilometers, took home the general classification closing with a 10-second margin ahead of Xabier Berasategi (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Thomas Pesenti (Polti VisitMalta). 

THE RACE

From the start, Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarchè) takes off followed shortly after by Gotzon Martin (Euskaltel - Euskadi) and Kane Richards (Roojai Insurance Winspace). The three manage to build up almost a minute's advantage when, from behind, first Cyrus Monk (FNIX - SCOM - Hengxiang Cycling Team) and then with him Carter Bettles (Roojai Insurance Winspace) and Fergus Browning (Terengganu Cycling Team) attempt to close the gap but fail to do so. The main group, having caught the counterattackers and passed the first climb of the day (won by Veistroffer), draws closer to the breakaway riders, on whom, this time, Adne van Engelen (Terengganu Cycling Team) attempts to reach the wheels of the escapees in a solo effort.

As happened before, the Dutchman also fades quickly and so, with a constantly tight margin, the trio passes through the two third-category climbs before launching into the long, fast descent towards the valley floor. Once there, the group momentarily slows its pace, allowing the breakaway to gain more than a minute's advantage, which is quickly reduced by the work of Bardiani and Terengganu, determined to claim the bonus seconds at the only intermediate sprint of the day.

However, the mission fails because Veistroffer and Martin manage to relaunch their attack and secure the first two positions ahead of Nicolas Vinokourov (XDS Astana). On the momentum, the Belgian from Lotto insists in a solo ride but is soon reabsorbed by the group, which remains compact for only a short time as, in a counterattack, Dylan Hopkins (Roojai Insurance Winspace), Adne van Engelen (Terengganu Cycling Team), Andrei Stepanov and Jambaljamts Sainbayar (Burgos Burpellet BH) attack, to whom, shortly after, Nils Sinschek (Li Ning Star) and Zeb Kyffin (Terengganu Cycling Team) join.

The six manage to build up to 1'07" between them and the peloton which, led by Bardiani and Solution Tech, then engages in a violent chase that is completed only within the final kilometer, just in time to set up the final sprint and see Salby display the sprint that takes him to beat the first stage winner Rajovic and Estonian Vahtra.

Behind them, a group of Italians (Enrico Zanoncello 6th, Matteo Malucelli 7th and Luca Colnaghi 8th) comes close to the top 5, while in terms of Italy's performance in the general classification, things go better where, behind Silva and Berasategi, an excellent Thomas Pesenti in third position (his second podium in a .Pro stage race after second place at the 2024 Tour de Langkawi) with Lorenzo Quartucci 4th, Alessandro Fancellu 5th and Matteo Fabbro 9th.

STAGE RESULTS

1. Alexander Salby (DAN/Li Ning Star) - 3:20:43

2. Dusan Rajovic (SRB/Solution Tech Nippo Rali) - s.t.

3. Norman Vahtra (EST/China Anta-Mentech Cycling) - s.t.

4. Lionel Taminiaux (BEL/Lotto Intermarchè) - s.t.

5. Iúri Leitão (POR/Caja Rural-RGA) - s.t.

6. Enrico Zanoncello (ITA/Bardiani-CSF-7Saber) - s.t.

7. Matteo Malucelli (ITA/XDS-Astana) - s.t.

8. Luca Colnaghi (ITA/Bardiani-CSF-7Saber) - s.t.

9. Oscar Gallagher (AUS/Ccache x Bodywrap) - s.t.

10. Steffen De Schuyteneer (BEL/Lotto-Intermarchè) - s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Guillermo Thomas Silva (URU/XDS Astana) - 20:00:18

2. Xabier Berasategi (SPA/Euskaltel-Euskadi) at 0:10

3. Thomas Pesenti (ITA/Polti VisitMalta) at 0:10

4. Lorenzo Quartucci (ITA/Burgos Burpellet BH) at 0:17

5. Alessandro Fancellu (ITA/MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort) at 0:18

6. Nicolas Vinokurov (KAZ/XDS Astana) at 0:19

7. Clément Alleno (FRA/Burgos Burpellet BH) at 0:22

8. Fabrizio Crozzolo (ARG/Polti VisitMalta) at 0:22

9. Matteo Fabbro (ITA/Solution Tech NIPPO Rali) at 0:22

10. Mathias Bregnhoj (DAN/Terengganu Cycling) at 0:24

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points Classification: Xabier Berasategi (SPA) - Euskaltel-Euskadi

Mountain Classification: Igor Chzhan (KAZ) - Quick Pro

Team Classification: Polti VisitMalta (ITA)