author：qinghaihu publish time：2024-07-09
VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane has again found success at the Tour of Qinghai Lake, as Manuele Tarozzi claimed victory in the third stage in this year’s edition.
A group of five riders rapidly descended into Guide but it was Tarozzi’s patience and timing that paid off, the Italian perfectly timed a late attack with 500m remaining, seizing his first victory for the season.
Despite a desperate effort to catch Tarozzi, defending champion Henok Mulueberhan (Astana Qazaqstan) was unable to close the gap and ran out of road.
The Eritrean had to settle for second whilst Jefferson Cepeda (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) rounded out today’s podium.
Tarozzi’s victory also puts the Italian team into the race’s overall lead by 12 seconds also grabbing the green jersey thanks to his stage victory, rounding out a successful day for VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane.
It was an absorbing stage, 212km long that featured a category-one climb at 87km into the stage but was dwarfed by an uncategorised climb that took riders up to 3,593m high.
Once the flag dropped the yellow jersey group was immediately under siege, sprinters were keen to collect the intermediate sprint points on offer before climbs started but it was the battle for yellow that took centre stage.
Only 20km into the stage a large group of 25 riders rolled off the front containing Luke Mudgway (Li Ning Stars) and Jensen Plowright (Alpecin-Decueninck), the pair collected the first points on offer keeping themselves in the hunt for the green jersey.
However, it was the collection of Astana Qazaqstan, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Team Medellin and Li Ning Stars who all had multiple teammates to drive the break.
A four minute advantage was opened ahead of desperately chasing from Burgos-BH.
The Spanish team managed to pull the break back to a single minute but on the lower slopes of the HC climb Mulueberhan impressively launched himself across to the break with 58km remaining, only Cepada and teammate Jokin Murguialday were able to follow.
The HC proved decisive, slimming the front group down to just Tarozzi, Mulueberhan, Cepada, Murguialday, Jaume Guardeño (Caja Rural) and Abner Lopez (Astana Qazaqstan).
Repeated attacks by the Caja Rurla trio were neutralised by Lopez and Mulueberhan, the pair keen on a sprint but Tarozzi had other ideas, attacking late and winning the stage.
Mulueberhan had to settle for second but was rewarded with the polka dot jersey, whilst Tianyoude Hotel Cycling Team Saeid Safarzadeh maintained his lead in the blue jersey.
Stage four of the Tour of Qinghai Lake is 136km long beginning in Guide and will finish Gonghe.
