Date: Monday, 14 July 2025
Cyclists compete during Stage 6 of the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai International Road Cycling Race from Gangcha to Gonghe, northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)
GONGHE, China, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Eritrea's Henok Mulueberhan of XDS Astana claimed victory in the sixth stage of the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai on Friday, dominating the race's longest segment and reaffirming his team's status as one of the top contenders for the overall title.
The 25-year-old, who won the general classification (Yellow Jersey) in the 2023 edition, completed the 232.7-kilometer route from Gangcha to Gonghe in 4 hours, 59 minutes and 56 seconds. The stage featured a grueling 180km flat stretch followed by a punishing 10km ascent from 3,300 to 3,740 meters above sea level.
Mulueberhan, who had placed third in Stage 2 and second in Stage 5, credited his win to a team effort. "It's not my own victory - it belongs to all the staff of the team. We deserve it," he said. "I believe in myself, and I believe in my teammates."
Astana, the only UCI WorldTeam in this year's race, further bolstered its standing with a third-place finish by Ecuador's Harold Martin Lopez, Mulueberhan's teammate.
Uruguay's national champion Guillermo Thomas Silva, 23, crossed the line in second place to retain the Yellow Jersey with a cumulative time of 24:35:33. He also reclaimed the Green Jersey as the day's top sprinter. Mulueberhan now trails Silva by just four seconds in the general classification, setting up a tense battle in the final two stages.
Switzerland's Simon Pellaud of Li-Ning Star maintained his grip on the Polka Dot Jersey as the event's top climber, having worn it since Stage 2.
Iran's Saeid Safarzadeh of Tianyoude Hotel Cycling once again took the Blue Jersey for best Asian rider, a title he has held since Stage 2. Teammate Hasan Seyfollahifard had previously worn the jersey after Stage 1, continuing Tianyoude's dominance in the Asian classification.
Saturday's Stage 7 will cover 137 kilometers from Gonghe to Haiyan and includes an opening 50km climb from 2,900m to 3,706m.
Formerly known as the Tour of Qinghai Lake, the event was rebranded in 2025 as the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai. First held in 2002, the high-altitude race is recognized as one of Asia's premier road cycling events, known for its punishing terrain and average elevation of 3,000 meters.
The 2025 edition features eight stages totaling 1,400 kilometers and includes 154 professional riders from 11 countries and regions. The race concludes on July 13. ■
Cyclists compete during Stage 6 of the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai International Road Cycling Race from Gangcha to Gonghe, northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)
Cyclists compete during Stage 6 of the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai International Road Cycling Race from Gangcha to Gonghe, northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)
