Alexander Konychev's impressive 2026 season continues. Fresh from the demands of the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai, the Italian rider from China Anta-Mentech Team has claimed the first stage of the China Xizang Trans Himalaya, a short stage race (now in its fifth edition) that uniquely takes place at high altitude in the autonomous region of Tibet.

Decisive in what marks the first professional victory of his career, the twenty-eight-year-old rider from Verona proved his worth in a two-man sprint, beating Belarusian Raman Tsishkou (Li Ning Star) at the finish line at 3,511 meters at Basomtso Lake, after the two had managed to break away earlier in the race. 

For Konychev, who now wears the first yellow jersey as race leader, this represents his fifth success of the season overall (the eighth of his entire career) following victories at the Tour of Rhodes in March, the Tour of Lithuania in late May (where he claimed both the opening stage and the general classification), and the Ronde de l'Oise in June, his last engagement before flying to the Chinese highlands in search of new achievements. Between today's victory and his participation in the Qinghai race (where he posted a 5th and an 8th place finish), those satisfactions have certainly not been slow in coming. 

Speaking of satisfying results and encouraging placings, worth noting on the Italian front is the 5th place finish of Luca Colnaghi (his best result in a .1 category race or higher this season) and the 10th place of Filippo Magli, both riders representing Bardiani CSF 7 Saber, which fielded five riders at the start of this demanding Chinese race. 

FINISHING ORDER 

1. Alexander Konychev (China Anta–Mentech Cycling Team) 2:47:20

2. Raman Tsishkou (Li Ning Star) s.t.

3. Petr Rikunov (Wheeltop Rotor Chengdu Team) +0:38

4. Derek Liam Walsh (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) +0:45

5. Luca Colnaghi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) +0:45

6. Eduardo Sepulveda (Li Ning Star) +0:46

7. Willie Smit (China Anta–Mentech Cycling Team) +0:46

8. Kyffin (Terengganu Cycling Team) +0:46

9. David Delgado (Quick Pro Team) +0:47

10. Filippo Magli (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) +0:47