After more than two years, Davide Persico raises his arms to the sky in a professional race. The sprinter for MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort, without a victory among the big races since his win in the sixth stage of the Tour of Qinghai Lake two years ago, has broken his drought by winning the third stage of the China Xizang Trans-Himalaya 2026, the Lhasa-Lhasa stage of 94.8 kilometers.

Perfectly positioned and launched by his teammates, the twenty-five-year-old from Cene left no chance to either Tegshbayar Batsaikhan (the last of the four breakaway riders caught in a full sprint 200 meters from the finish) nor to his main rivals starting with Filippo Cettolin (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) and Lorenzo Cataldo (China Meitan Cycling Team), who had to bow to the sprint of the Lombard rider, already victorious this year at the Popolarissima in mid-March.

"I'm super happy to have managed to win today" declared the former Bingoal rider after the finish line. "The Trans-Himalaya? It's a beautiful race but also a tough one: it's crazy to find yourself racing at these altitudes".

For the Italian colors, the day was further enhanced by the top ten finishes of Luca Colnaghi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber), Tommaso Nencini (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali), Filippo Magli (VF Group Bardiani CSF Faizanè), Mirko Bozzola (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort) and the ever-present general classification leader Alexander Konychev (China Anta - Mentech Cycling Team) who, all finishing in the top ten positions, gave the finish line a decidedly Italian imprint.

Such a scenario is not excluded from repeating itself in 24 hours in the Lhoka Municipality-Gangba Village stage of 132.3 kilometers, a fraction that, except for the very short climb of Seni at mid-race, presents no difficulties and, barring any breakaway attempts, should once again conclude with a group sprint.

FINISH ORDER

1. Davide Persico (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort) 1:53:32

2. Filippo Cettolin (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) s.t.

3. Lorenzo Cataldo (China Meitan Cycling Team) s.t.

4. Luca Colnaghi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) s.t.

5. Pierre Barbier (Terengganu Cycling Team) s.t.

6. Cristian David Pita (Roojai Insurance Winspace) s.t.

7. Alexander Konychev (China Anta - Mentech Cycling Team) s.t.

8. Tommaso Nencini (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali) s.t.

9. Filippo Magli (VF Group Bardiani CSF Faizanè) s.t.

10. Mirko Bozzola (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort) s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Alexander Konychev (China Anta - Mentech Cycling Team) 6:54:50

2. Raman Tsishkou (Li Ning Star) 0:03

3. Petr Rikunov (Wheeltop Rotor Chengdu Team) 0:45

4. Andreas Miltiadis (Quick Pro Team) 0:51

5. Luca Colnaghi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) 0:54

6. Zeb Kyffin (Terengganu Cycling Team) 0:55

7. Filippo Magli (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) 0:56

8. Cormac McGeough (7Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines) 0:56

9. Liam Walsh (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) 0:57

10. Eduardo Sepúlveda (Li Ning Star) 0:57

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points Classification: Alexander Konychev (China Anta - Mentech Cycling Team)

Team Classification: Quick Pro Team