Lampre’s Zurlo wins stage 7 at Tour of Qinghai Lake

QINGSHIZUI, China—Italian Federico Zurlo (Lampre-Merida) emphatically won a sprint finish in what was the last significant mountains stage of the 15th ‘Qinghai Rural Credit Cup’ Tour of Qinghai Lake (UCI 2.HC) in Qingshizui, China, on Saturday, July 23.

The 22-year-old posted his first pro win after outsprinting Colombian Jahir Perez (Ningxia Sports Lottery-Focus Cycling Team), who also finished second the day before, and Iranian Hamid Pourhashemi (Pishgaman Cycling Team) by more than five bike lengths.

While many riders have succumbed to altitude sickness over the first week of racing in what is the UCI’s highest average elevation of any bike race in the world, Zurlo has physiologically embraced the altitude according to Lampre-Merida team doctor Michele De Grandi.

“Zurlo is fast rider, but we see here in altitude he is good also in climbing,” De Grandi told Eurosport. “It is a physiological adaptation that happens to some fast riders when they go up.

“Everyday he was in the first group, this time he could remain in the breakaway and then he was the fastest one in the finish.”

It has been a tough week for the lone WorldTour team in Qinghai Lake. Team sprinter Marko Kump (SLO), who won five stages and the points classification last year while riding for his native Adria Mobil, was one of many riders suffering injuries following a mass pileup inside the final 2km of stage 1. Kump has been plagued by bruised ribs since, but has continued to push on in hopes of coming good by race end where three circuit race opportunities remain.

“Yes, it has been a disappointing week,” admits De Grandi. “Not only with Marko, but also with Valerio Conti (ITA). We had general classification (GC) hopes but the first day of high climbing he suffered from altitude and so he fell off classification, so there is disappointment surely.

“Now we try to do the best we can, as we always do,” he continued. “Who knows what happens the second week of racing as Marko is feeling better. Surely for Zurlo too, because he was a bit insecure thinking too much and second-guessing himself, but today he was more relaxed and feeling less pressure – and he won.”

Now with Zurlo giving Lampre it’s first win of the race, matching last year’s win total at Qinghai Lake after teammate Ilia Koshevoy (BEL) also won on stage 7, the team is ready to move into the second week of racing in the 13-stage, 1,916km UCI Asia Tour road race often referred to as the unofficial “fourth grand tour” of cycling.

“It is fantastic,” said the exuberant winner following the 150km stage featuring two intermediate sprints and one category 1 climb (3,767m elevation). “It was the perfect race and we used good tactics in the final for the win. This victory is for the entire team.”

While there is no change in the either the GC or the points classification, with Ukrainian Vitaliy Buts (Kolss-BDC) holding on to both jerseys since winning stage 4 on Wednesday, as well as the mountains classification with Colombian Mauricio Ortega (RTS-Santic) maintaining his grip on the polka dot jersey since being the first to receive it on stage 3, the jersey for the best Asian rider has found a new owner.

Kazakhstan’s Zhandos Bizhigitov (Vino 4ever SKO) lifts the blue top from teammate and two-time stage winner Yevgeniy Gidich, who slipped from third on GC to sixth after losing 2 minutes 41 seconds on the day. Bizhigitov, who according to team sports director Sergey Danniker is being considered for a stagiaire role with the Astana Pro Team following Qinghai Lake, moves into fourth overall just 45 seconds back.

Stage 7 Classification

1. Federico Zurlo, ITA, Lampre-Merida, 3:41:37

2. Jahir Perez, COL, Ningxia Sports Lottery-Focus Cycling Team, s.t.

3. Hamid Pourhashemi, IRI, Pishgaman Cycling Team, 0:02

General Classification

1. Vitaliy Buts, UKR, Kolss-BDC, 17:12:16

2. Sergiy Lagkuti, UKR, Kolss-BDC, s.t.

3. Alberto Cecchin, ITA, Team Roth, 0:22

Classification Leaders

Race Leader (Yellow Jersey): Vitaliy Buts, UKR, Kolss-BDC

Points Leader (Green Jersey): Vitaliy Buts, UKR, Kolss-BDC

Mountains leader (Polka Dot Jersey): Mauricio Ortega, COL, RTS-Santic

Best Asian Rider (Blue Jersey): Zhandos Bizhigitov, KAZ, Vino 4ever SKO

Most Aggressive: Jahir Perez, COL, Ningxia Sports Lottery-Focus Cycling Team

Teams classification: Kolss-BDC, 77:20:40