Mareczko sprints to his second stage win at Qinghai Lake

ByAaron S. Lee

Updated 28/07/2016 at 14:03 GMT

Polish-born Italian Jakub Mareczko is making the most of his time in China by capturing his second stage win at the 15th ‘Qinghai Rural Credit Cup’ Tour of Qinghai Lake…

Southeast’s Mareczko wins stage 11 at Qinghai Lake

Image credit: Eurosport

Southeast's Jakub Mareczko (ITA) celebrates his second stage win of the 15th Tour of Qinghai Lake - Photo: Adrian Hoe

Image credit: Eurosport

YINCHUAN, China—Jakub Mareczko’s (Wilier Triestina-Southeast) stage 2 win seems like a lifetime ago for the Polish-born 22-year-old Italian after spending the past eight stages enduring scorching heat, breathtaking altitudes and nearly 1,400 (1,397) leg-smashing kilometres ever since.

However, the two-time Presidential Tour of Turkey (UCI 2.HC) stage winner added another double to his 2016 campaign with a stage 11 sprint victory at the 15th ‘Qinghai Rural Credit Cup’ Tour of Qinghai Lake (2.HC) on Thursday, July 28.

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Mareczko, who also claimed stage wins at the Tour de San Luis (2.1) and Le Tour de Langkawi (2.HC) earlier this year, overcame tired legs from the previous week to outsprint Meron Teshome (Stradalli-Bike Aid) and previous back-to-back stage winner Marko Kump (Lampre-Merida) in the final of the 122km Yinchuan city circuit.

“The past few days have been very hard for me,” Mareczko admitted to Eurosport after the race. “Yesterday was very long (240km) and the altitude it was 2200m with an average speed of 45km/h.

“Today there was a breakaway in the front, but my team did an amazing job to close in the final kilometres and put me in front for the sprint and the win.”

Weighing a full kilogram lighter than this time last year, when he had to abandon the race following due to the effects of a stage 2 crash, Mareczko was well prepared for the hardships of Qinghai Lake in order to finish the 13-stage, 1,916km UCI Asia Tour road race – something he was unable to do at the Giro d’Italia (2.UWT) in May after he was forced to withdraw during stage 5.

“This race is so very important for my career,” explained Mareczko. “I’ve never completed a race at this distance and altitude before and I hope this experience will benefit me in the future.”

Reigning New Zealand champion Jason Christie (Kenyan Riders Downunder) overcame a puncture in the first 10km to earn 'most aggressive rider' honours following a 90km solo breakaway on stage 11 - Photo: Adrian Hoe

Image credit: Eurosport

While Mareczko won the stage, it was reigning New Zealand road race champion Jason Christie (Kenyan Riders Downunder) who nearly stole the show after recovering from an early-race puncture with an impressive 90km solo break that nearly went the distance before being absorbed inside the final 20km.

“I could’ve sat back and had an easy day with the individual time trial still ahead tomorrow,” the 25-year-old Christchurch native told Eurosport. “But having not gotten a lot out of this tour in terms of results, I chucked my nose to the wind and went off alone.

“I thought I might as well keep going, collect some sprint primes along the way and just have a bit of fun.”

While Ukrainian Vitaliy Buts (Kolss-BDC) has maintained his stranglehold on the yellow leaders jersey since stage 3, the stage 4 winner relinquished his green points jersey to 34-year-old Italian Daniele Colli (Nippo-Vini Fantini), who has been ‘Mr. Consistent’ during the race with six top 5 finishes, including two runner ups.

Italian Daniele Colli (Nippo-Vini Fantini) has been 'Mr. Consistent' at the Tour of Qinghai Lake and slips into the green points jersey on stage 11 - Photo: Adrian Hoe

Image credit: Eurosport

“I came here hoping for general classification,” Colli told Eurosport. “But I didn’t feel good on the first mountains stage (3) and lost too much time.

“After that, I looked forward to the flat stages for the sprints because Buts is a stronger climber, but Nicolas [Marini] and I are stronger sprinters, and today Marini did not feel good.

“I gave it my best,” the 2015 Tour of China I winner continued. “But I sprinted two times to get to the finish and had nothing left, but it’s OK as I have the green jersey and hope to carry it with me to the end.”

Only two stages remain, including a 23km individual time trial on Friday and a final 95km circuit race to close the race on Saturday.

BRIEF RESULTS

Stage 11 Classification

1. Jakub Mareczko, ITA, Wilier Triestina-Southeast, 2:39:02

2. Meron Teshome, ERI, Stradalli-Bike Aid, s.t.

3. Marko Kump, SLO, Lampre-Merida, s.t.

General Classification

1. Vitaliy Buts, UKR, Kolss-BDC, 38:36:09

2. Sergiy Lagkuti, UKR, Kolss-BDC, 0:05

3. Alberto Cecchin, ITA, Team Roth, 0:26

Classification Leaders

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