Yuriy Metlushenko wins sixth stage in 2011 Tour of Qinghai Lake: Cycling News
Ukraine team’s Yuriy Metlushenko won the mass sprint of the sixth stage of 2011 Tour of Qinghai Lake in Qilian on Thursday, July 7. Gregor Gazvoda maintained his overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The 35-year-old Ukrnian cyclist took a total of 2 hours, 13 minutes and 3 seconds to cover the distance of 103 kilometres and took his first season's victory.
Previously, Yuriy took the first place in Tour of Hainan and won the fourth and fifth stage of 2010 Tour of Qinghai Lake. He also won the fourth stage of Coppi e Bartali.
Robert Forster of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling was the runner-up and Sacha Modolo of Colnago - CSF Inox was in the third spot.
Boris Shpilevsky (Tabriz Petrochemical Team), Alexey Shmidt (Team Type 1 - Sanofi Aventis) and Paolo Locatelli (Colnago - CSF Inox) were in fourth, fifth and sixth places, respectively.
A group of three riders made their first breakaway including, Wenlong Zhang (China 361° Cycling Team), Rico Rogers (Giant Kenda Cycling Team) and Yuriy Metlushenko (Ukraine). All of them gained a lead of few seconds over the peloton, while Zhang maintained
his pace and took the first sprint.
After a few kilometres to go, all the three cyclists were caught by the peloton and a new group was formed including, Tomislav Danculovic, Jesus Rosendo Prado and Valery Valynin.
The last two cyclists attacked, but Tomislav was in good form and managed to gain the advantage over them to take the second sprint.
Loborika Favorit Team’s Kristijan Durasek took the overall mountain classification with 14 points ahead of Abbas Saeidi Tanha of Azad University. Kazakhstan's rider, Dmitry, grabbed the title of best Asian rider standing, ahead of Hossein Askari.
Gregor took the overall lead with a timing of 17 hours, 50 minutes and 13 seconds, ahead of Gruzdev with 4 seconds behind Gregor. The general standing remains unchanged, while Ramírez Abeja took the eight spot and Adrian Palomares grabbed the 14th place
in the stage.
Cata Martinez told the media, "The fall in which has been involved Lobato has nullified the chances of getting into the sprint, but thankfully okay. We continue to Bee and Palomares well placed in the general. "
The next stage will start in Qilian and end in Menyuan. All the cyclists took the total of 170.4 kilometres.
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