author：qinghaihu publish time：2015-07-09
Gonghe, CHINA—Less than two days after racing over the first of two hors catégorie climbs at the 14th ‘Qinghai Rural Credit Cup’ Tour of Qinghai Lake (UCI 2.HC), the peloton was rapidly ascending the second on the ‘Qinghai Sports Development General Company’ stage 5 on Thursday, July 9.
Colombian Francisco Colorado (Ningxia Sports Lottery-Focus) recorded the king of the mountain (KOM) atop Luohe Yakou at 3,740 metres above sea level, but it was Slovakian Primož Roglič (Adria Mobil) that won the stage over Iranian Hossein Alizadeh (RTS-Santic), Colorado and Roglic’s Croatian teammate Radoslav Rogina, who sits second on general classification (GC).
From the mountain summit, the four-man break descended the final 50km into the finish line in Gonghe. Rogina attacked inside the final kilometre and led by 100m with 800m remaining, however Rogina took a wrong turn that cost him both the stage and the yellow leaders jersey.
“I was attacking and had a 100m advantage and then a guy in the middle of the road sent me on the wrong street which forced me to turn around and that cost me the race,” a frustrated Rogina said afterwards. “I would have won by 15 seconds and taken the yellow jersey.
“It was a perfect day for us and we did everything right,” he continued. “Both Primož and I had good legs, but in the end it’s not right.”
Although Roglic won, Adria Mobil backed Rogina and disputed the standings with the race officials. However, Chief Commissaire John McDonnell (NZL) stood by the results, which dropped Rogina from 9 seconds back to 18 seconds back to new leader Alizadeh, who lifted the jersey off of previous holder Oleksandr Polivoda (Kolss-BDC).
“Today was our day to take the yellow jersey because we knew Polivoda was not as strong on the climb as Radoslav and Primož,” said Adria Mobil sports director Bostjan Mervar. “We got unlucky here in the last 500m.
“I don’t know why this happened.”
While things may not have gone Adria Mobil’s way on the day, the Slovenian UCI Continental team has shown to be the strongest of the 22-team field with two stage wins from former Tinkoff-Saxo rider Marko Kump, and podiums every other day including 36-year-old Rogina’s second-place finish on stage 3 and 26-year-old Kump’s third-place finish on stage 4.
For the 25-year-old Roglič, the win was yet another result on his steadily growing palmarés that his quickly filling up in 2015 with GC wins at Tour d’Azerbaïdjan and Tour de Slovénie, as well as a second-place finish and a stage win at the Tour of Croatia.
“It’s the first time I’m here and at this altitude,” said the former Slovenian ski jumper. “We are enjoying the race and doing a great job.
“There was some confusion in the final 500m, as Radoslav turned right down the wrong road, but I kept going as the two other riders stayed on course and I had to go with them.”
The 13-stage, 2,027-kilometre Asia Tour race continues on Friday with the 138km ‘Jingdu Natural Water’ stage 6 from Gonghe to Guide.
Stage Results:
1. ROGLIC Primož （ADR）
2. ALIZADEH Hossein (RTS)
3. COLORADO HERNANDEZ FRANCISCO JARLEY (NFC)
Jersey:
GC(Yellow Jersey): ALIZADEH Hossein (RTS)
Points(Green Jersey): KUMP Marko (ADR)
Best Asia(Blue Jersey): ALIZADEH Hossein(RTS)
KOM(Polka dot Jersey): COLORADO HERNANDEZ Francisco Jarl(NFC)
