The 3rd stage of the 25th 2026 "Great Qinghai Lake" International Road Cycling Race concluded in Huzhu. Defending champion Henok Mulueberhan stood out in the small-group sprint with his outstanding finishing power and claimed the stage title.

The 3rd stage of the 25th 2026 "Great Qinghai Lake" International Road Cycling Race concluded in Huzhu. Defending champion Henok Mulueberhan stood out in the small-group sprint with his outstanding finishing power and claimed the stage title.

The 168km full-distance 3rd stage started from Menyuan and finished in Huzhu. The key turning point unfolded at the final climb roughly 40km from the finish, where Henok Mulueberhan and his teammate Cristian Rodriguez launched a decisive attack from the main peloton, successfully reeling in the solo breakaway rider ahead and forming a leading small group together.

In the showdown of the final kilometers, the two Xidesheng Astana riders collaborated seamlessly, maintaining a consistently high pace to create ideal conditions for the final sprint. Henok Mulueberhan crossed the line first with his powerful sprint, securing his first victory of the season.

The stage champion was overjoyed after the race. As the defending champion, the Eritrean rider claimed one stage win and the overall title at the Tour of Qinghai Lake last year. He remarked: "Today's race went extremely smoothly. The team did an excellent job from start to finish, especially in the first half, where my teammates controlled the pace perfectly to prepare us for the climbs. On the final climb, Cristian (Rodriguez) gave me tremendous support — he stayed at the front to manage the race and helped us hold the optimal position in the closing phase.

I want to thank the entire team for their support and efforts today. This victory belongs to all of us, every single one of us deserves it. I've been eagerly anticipating my first win of the season, and I'm absolutely thrilled to have finally achieved this goal. Once again, I'd like to thank all my teammates and staff for their backing."

Tomorrow (July 14), the 4th "China Sports Lottery" Huzhu-Guide stage will kick off, featuring 2 categorized climbs and 3 intermediate sprint points. Riders will face the dual test of an HC-category climb and an ultra-long downhill — stay tuned.