author：qinghaihu publish time：2015-07-07
Datong, CHINA—For the second straight day, Slovenia’s Mark Kump (Adria Mobil) sprinted to the line first on a crash-marred ‘Jingdu Natural Water’ stage 2 of the 14th ‘Qinghai Rural Credit Cup’ Tour of Qinghai Lake (UCI 2.HC).
The 26-year-old bested Ukraine’s Andriy Kulyk (Kolss-BDC) and Italy’s Mattia Gavazzi (Amore & Vita-Selle SMP), who finished second to Kump on the opening stage in Xining a day earlier, to successfully hold on to both the yellow leaders jersey and green points jersey on Monday, July 6.
“I am super delighted because of all the efforts my teammates did in the last two days,” said Kump after the race. “The wins are just one way how I can say thanks to them.”
With more than five crashes, including two mass pileups in the middle of the race and a collision inside the final 200m, the race had its fair share of causalities.
Ukraine’s Alex Surutkovych (Synergy Baku) is out with a broken arm, while Lampre-Merida general classification contender Mattia Cattaneo (ITA) crashed out of the race with no word as of yet as to the extent of his injuries.
Cattaneo’s teammate Gang Xu also crashed out after separating his shoulder during a collision in the closing sprint finish. The loss of Cattaneo and Xu leave Lampre with four riders after they entered the race with just six when Mario Costa (POR), older brother to Rui, failed to receive a travel visa in time for the start. American Matt Rodrigues (AirGas-Safeway) is also out with a broken rib and scapula.
Australia’s Theodore Yates was one of four Navitas-Satalyst Racing Team riders that hit the deck. All returned to finish the race, with Yates being rushed to the hospital afterwards for X-rays.
The day started with an initial five-man break consisting of Japan’s Genki Yamamoto (Nippo-Vini Fantini), Croatia’s Bruno Maltar (Meridiana-Kamen), France’s Matthieu Jeannes (Lupus Racing Team), and China’s Zeng Tao Yang (China Continental Team of Gansu Bank) and Shengjun Wu (Qinghai Tianyoude Cycling Team). The quintet was caught within 6km.
From there, Ming Xing Xue (Ningxia Sports Lottery-Focus) and Winston David (Lupus Racing Team) attacked and extended a gap to 1 minute at the 33km mark.
The gap increased to more than four minutes with Xue taking the first and second intermediate sprint points, followed by David and Qiao. At 118km, only David with a gap of 2 minutes 35 seconds. The 27-year-old American claimed the third and final intermediate sprint before being reeled in with 17km to go.
“I didn’t know what it was like today,” admitted David. “But when I saw it riding with the other guy, I realised it’s way better off the front than in the field. But it was seriously are really tough day.”
With temperatures soaring to near 30C, and elevations reaching more than 2,700 metres along the 188-kilometre course that consisted of three 42.6km circuits following a 60km intro, David was in for a long day at the office.
“The altitude, distance and heat were a brutal combination,” explained David. “We went over one hill pretty hard and we were all together and then the pace slowed down. From there I just jumped and thought more people would come, but they didn’t.
“I didn’t want to spend the whole day with just one guy and by myself for most of it,” he continued. “I just keep riding as hard as I could to see if I could stay out for the stage win.”
David’s sports director (DS) was thrilled by his riders’ performances over the last two days, which included a thrilling break from newly signed Frenchman Thomas Vaubourzeix who took third overall at the race last year.
“These guys are making me so proud,” said Lupus Racing Team DS Jason Kriel. “We are overjoyed, and will be looking for more good things in the mountains.”
After two consecutive sprint stages, the 13-day UCI Asia Tour stage race heads up and over Sun and Moon Mountain, a hors catégorie climb (3,443m) midway through the 148km race from Xining to Qinghai Lake on ‘China UnionPay’ stage 3.
While Kump expects to surrender the leaders jersey in the mountains, he does not believe it is the last time he will see the podium.
“We will fight tomorrow and the day after,” said Kump. “It is not the last time Adria Mobil on the podium.”
Team sports director Bostjan Mervar agrees with his star rider.
“We cannot push the peloton all race,” said Mervar. “We must leave the jersey one day to another team and then again attack when opportunity arises.
“With at least four more sprint stages remaining, Marko can win one or two more because he says he is strongest in peloton between the sprinters,” he concluded. “He is going to win one more I’m sure.”
Stage Results:
1、KUMP Marko （ADR）
2、GAVAZZI Mattia （AMO）
3、ZANOTTI Marco (PVC)
Jersey:
GC(Yellow Jersey): KUMP Marko (ADR)
Points(Green Jersey): KUMP Marko (ADR)
Best Asia(Blue Jersey): XUE Mingxing (NFC)
