author：qinghaihu publish time：2025-07-06
At 10:00 AM on July 5, 2025, the “ICBC Cup” 24th Tour of Magnificent Qinghai officially opened at the Haihu Sports Center in Xining, Qinghai Province. As China’s oldest, highest-altitude, and most challenging road cycling race, the Tour of Qinghai Lake has become a focal point for cyclists and enthusiasts both domestically and internationally.
The opening ceremony was attended by Wu Xiaojun, Secretary of the CPC Qinghai Provincial Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Congress; Luo Dongchuan, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Qinghai Provincial Committee and Governor of Qinghai Province; and Gongbao Zhaxi, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Chairman of the CPPCC Qinghai Provincial Committee. Representatives from China Media Group, the General Administration of Sport of China, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, along with officials from the China Green Foundation, the Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences, the China Wildlife Conservation Association, sports authorities from various provinces, race sponsors, athletes, referees, volunteers, and citizen representatives also attended to witness the event.
The 2025 edition will take place from July 6 to July 13, featuring eight stages over eight days. The race will begin with a circuit stage in Xining and conclude in Haiyan County, Haibei Prefecture, Qinghai Province. The route passes through Xining, Haidong, Hainan, and Haibei, covering a total distance of 1,400 kilometers, including 1,325 kilometers of competitive racing, a 10-kilometer honorary ride, and 65 kilometers of transfers, with an average altitude of 3,000 meters.
This year’s event has attracted 22 teams from 11 countries and regions across four continents, with over 150 riders competing. The lineup includes 1 UCI WorldTeam, 8 UCI ProTeams, and 13 UCI Continental Teams, featuring athletes from Kazakhstan, Spain, Italy, France, Australia, Slovenia, Turkey, Mexico, Estonia, Malaysia, and China.
The opening ceremony featured a flag-raising ceremony and artistic performances under the theme “Meet in Qinghai, Pursue Dreams Together,” showcasing programs such as Mountains and Seas, Qinghai, Qinghai, A Millennium Promise, Brave Forward, Beauty in Harmony, and United in Dreams. These performances highlighted the region’s natural beauty and the spirit of ethnic unity, creating a rich cultural atmosphere for the race.
As a key initiative in promoting ecological civilization and Qinghai’s strategy to strengthen itself through sports, the Tour of Qinghai Lake has become an important platform for showcasing Qinghai’s high-quality development and openness to the world. The race will further integrate sports, culture, tourism, and ecological initiatives, helping Qinghai step confidently onto the global stage.
