The 25th Tour of Magnificent Qinghai International Road Cycling Race came to a thrilling conclusion on Saturday with the eighth and final stage, which took riders from Xihai Town to the scenic Qinghai Lake via the Sun Moon Mountain pass.
The 146‑km stage offered a final opportunity for teams yet to claim a victory this year, and the intense battles for the overall yellow jersey and the green sprinter’s jersey made for a tense finale. In the end, Iúri Leitão of Caja Rural–Seguros RGA sprinted to victory, taking the stage win. Alexis Renard of Cofidis and Enrico Zanoncello of Bardiani–CSF–Faizanè finished second and third respectively.
Jerseys and Final Classifications
The race’s most prestigious jersey, the overall leader’s yellow jersey sponsored by ICBC, was secured by Jonathan Klever Caicedo Cepeda of Emitadora–ROTOR–Zhejiang. Henok Mulueberhan of XDS Astana Team claimed the green jersey for the points classification (sponsored by Jinhui Liquor), while his teammate Cristian Rodríguez Martín won the mountains classification (polka‑dot jersey). The blue jersey for the best Asian rider (sponsored by Peak) went to Saeid Safarzadeh of Qinghai Tianyoude Hotel Cycling Team.
Race Recap
After several days of rain, clear skies and a temperature of 17°C greeted the 95 remaining riders in Xihai Town. The fine weather sparked aggressive racing, but the yellow jersey contenders’ teams maintained a high tempo, tightly controlling any breakaways.
At the first intermediate sprint, Alexander Salby (Li Ning Star) took the maximum points, ahead of Leitão and green jersey holder Mulueberhan. Zeb Kyffin (Terengganu Cycling Team) was the first to break clear, but his solo move was short‑lived.
Salby also won the second intermediate sprint, while a group including Alessio Martinelli (Bardiani–CSF–Faizanè), Iker Mintegi Claver (Euskaltel–Euskadi), Fabrizio German Crozzolo (Team Polti–Visit Malta) and William Heffernan (Burgos–Bahrain) attempted to move clear on the climb. All were eventually caught.
The only categorised climb of the day proved decisive for the polka‑dot jersey. Jonas Rapp attacked first, but XDS Astana reacted quickly, and Cristian Rodríguez Martín powered past his teammate Mulueberhan to take maximum points at the summit, sealing his victory in the mountains classification. Mulueberhan then won the final intermediate sprint.
Yellow jersey holder Jonathan Klever Caicedo Cepeda surprisingly joined an eight‑man break that opened a 30‑second gap, but the peloton reacted swiftly, closing the move down 30 km from the finish. Merhawi Kudus (Burgos–BH) and Rapp tried again late on, but were reeled in just 4 km from the line.
In the finale, Alexis Renard launched a long sprint from the right side, but Iúri Leitão produced an explosive acceleration on the left to power past everyone and take the final stage victory.
A Race That Has Become Part of the Land
After eight days of intense racing, the 25th edition of the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai has come to a close. From the river valleys of the Huangshui to the shores of Qinghai Lake, riders pushed themselves to the limit across the high‑altitude plateau, showcasing the extraordinary beauty of this unique landscape.
Twenty‑five years is long enough for a race to become woven into the fabric of a place. The saplings planted back then now offer shade to sprinting riders, and the children who once waved flags by the roadside may now be bringing their own children to watch the wheels fly past the familiar scenery of their hometown.
”We extend our sincere gratitude to all the riders, spectators and event staff. This year’s race not only delivered world‑class competition but also highlighted Qinghai’s remarkable progress in ecological civilization. Though the 25th Tour of Magnificent Qinghai has drawn to a close, the openness and warmth of this magnificent land will never fade. We look forward to returning next year for another unforgettable celebration of cycling on the plateau.”
Text, Photo & Video Credits: Tour of Magnificent Qinghai