Team NetApp – Endura defends its lead in the team classification in China
Stage 7 of the Tour of Quinghai Lake was comparatively short today, beginning in Tongren and ending 143 kilometers further on in Hualong. Its profile included only one category 3 mountain classification. Timofey Kritskiy (RusVelo) prevailed with a solo ride, reaching the finish line nearly one minute ahead of the duo consisting of Andrey Kizurov (RTS) and Ghader Mizbani (Tabriz). Daniel Schorn, Cesare Benedetti and Frantisek Padour crossed the finish line with the first chase group, thus allowing Padour to hold onto his 5th place ranking in the general classification. Team NetApp – Endura also continues to lead the team classification.
“A group pulled away right after the race got started and built up as much as an eight-minute lead. The later winner of the stage was also in this group. Today’s mountain was really difficult, since it was long and was ridden at a fast pace, which ended up pulling the field apart. Our plan was to attack at the top, but our guys were aggressive. They gave it their all and rode extremely well. This allowed Frantisek to hold onto his fantastic fifth place ranking. Cesare is now in the top 10 as well, and we are leading the team classification. We want to defend our top position when things get really difficult again tomorrow. Directly after the starting line, the route basically goes straight uphill to an altitude of over 1,700 meters. This doesn’t require a whole lot of strategy, but we simply have to cross the mountain with the first riders at the front”, says Sport Director Andre Schulze, describing tomorrow’s stage.