The September block of Chinese races opens with a victory in the first stage of the Tour of Shanghai by Karl Patrick Lauk. The Estonian from Wheeltop Rotor Chengdu, without a win since the 2023 national championships, claimed the opening stage with start and finish in Jiading by attacking, 4.4 kilometers from the finish, alongside Victor Alejandro Ocampo (Team Medellin-EPM) and Arnaud Tendon (Van Rysel Roubaix).

The three, repelling the violent return of the peloton, were able to contest the victory at the sprint where the 1997-born former Bingoal rider managed to edge out the Colombian before seeing the pack descend on their heels, controlled by Kurt Eather (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) ahead of Alvaro Hodeg (Team Medellín - EPM).

For Lauk, this brought his 13th career victory (including .2 races) and, above all, the first leader's jersey of the race where today no Italian (nine at the start of this stage race) was able to finish in the top ten: all of them, however, will have the opportunity to make amends tomorrow in the Songjiang-Qingpu stage of 94.8 kilometers.

STAGE RESULTS

1. Karl Patrick Lauk (Wheeltop Rotor Chengdu Team) 1:57:42

2. Victor Alejandro Ocampo Giraldo (Team Medellín - EPM) s.t.

3. Kurt Eather (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) s.t.

4. Alvaro Hodeg (Team Medellín - EPM) s.t.

5. Aliaksei Shnyrko (Li Ning Star) s.t.

6. Antoine Raugel (Van Rysel Roubaix) s.t.

7. Paul Hennequin (Euskaltel - Euskadi) s.t.

8. Ivan Bortnik (Pingtan International Tourism Island Cycling Team) s.t.

9. Mihkel Raim (Quick Pro Team) s.t.

10. Joos Oosterlinck (Van Rysel Roubaix) s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

Karl Patrick Lauk (Wheeltop Rotor Chengdu Team)