author：qinghaihu publish time：2016-07-22
QILIAN, China—Ukrainian-registered UCI Continental team Kolss-BDC is starting to make it look easy over the first week of racing at the 15th ‘Qinghai Rural Credit Cup’ Tour of Qinghai Lake (UCI 2.HC). The team has four riders in the top 6 on general classification (GC), including race and points leader Vitality Buts (UKR).
Two days after the Kolss finished first and third on the namesake stage, team rider Sergiy Lagkuti overcame two monstrous climbs to claim stage 6 in Qilian, China, on Friday, July 22.
The 207km day started quickly in Xihaizhen heading toward the first of two climbs, a category 1 (3,860m in elevation) at the 100km mark, which is where the race broke open with a sustained break that rode all the way to the finish. A total of 38 riders crossed the line within 22 seconds of one another, while the remaining 84 staggered in over the next half hour.
“Today was a hard stage and breakaway was for 100k full gas all the time,” explained Italian Daniele Colli (Nippo-Vini Fantini), who finished 22 seconds back off Lagkuti.
“The altitude was the problem, and after the last three stages today was very hard, and what was 200k, felt like 300k.”
The 34-year-old Colli, who has already claimed two second-place stage finishes this week, admits his pre-race altitude training is paying off.
“Before this race I’ve been in Lovigno (Italy) for a little bit of altitude training, but even just one week is important,” he said. “If I came here without altitude training I think I would die here.”
Stage 4 winner and current GC gave praise to his fellow countryman and teammate.
“It was a hard day today,” said Buts. “But, Sergiy had a really strong day today, and we got he result that we wanted.”
Colombian Juan Pablo Wilches (China Continental Team of Gansu Bank) was awarded the ‘Most Aggressive Rider’ honour following the race after claiming the intermediate sprint bonus and the first KOM (King of the Mountain), while Italian Antonio Santoro (Meridiana-Kamen) picked up the second KOM, atop the third hors categorie (HC) climb in four days – this one reaching a race maximum of 4,120m in elevation.
As far as the what the future holds for Buts and Lagkuti, who is currently on the same time as the yellow jersey with two-time stage winner Yevgeniy Gidich (Vino 4ever SKO) just one second back in third, Buts is confident Kolss can hang on to the general classification until the finish of the 13-stage, 1,916km UCI Asia Tour road race commonly referred to as to as the unofficial “fourth grand tour.”
“The ultimate goal is to keep the yellow jersey,” admitted the 29-year-old Buts. “I feel we are ready for it.”
BRIEF RESULTS
Stage 6 Classification
General Classification
Classification Leaders
Race Leader (Yellow Jersey): Vitaliy Buts, UKR, Kolss-BDC
Points Leader (Green Jersey): Vitaliy Buts, UKR, Kolss-BDC
Mountains leader (Polka Dot Jersey): Mauricio Ortega, COL, RTS-Santic
Best Asian Rider (Blue Jersey): Yevgeniy Gidich, KAZ, Vino 4ever SKO
Most Aggressive: Juan Pablo Wilches, COL, China Continental Team of Gansu Bank
Teams classification: Kolss-BDC, 66:12:56
