Ailing Gavazzi still too strong for peloton in Qinghai Lake finale

Italian sprinter Mattia Gavazzi fights fever to claim fourth stage win on final day of Tour of Qinghai Lake…

Yinchuan, CHINA—Only 107 of the 217 riders on the original start list managed to make it the final day of the 14th ‘Qinghai Rural Credit Cup’ Tour of Qinghai Lake (UCI 2.HC) for stage 13 on Saturday, July 18 in Shuidonggou, China.

After nearly 2,027 kilometres, with altitudes exceeding 4,000 metres over 13 days, including 12 stages and a rest day following stage 9, what remained of the pro peloton rolled up for the 135km ‘Tian You De’ stage race from Shuidonggou to Yinchuan. Even race favourite Mattia Gavazzi (Amore & Vita-Selle SMP) appeared worse for wear while fighting a severe head cold and fever that held him to fourth a day earlier on stage 12.

However, after receiving a helpful acupuncture treatment from Lupus Racing Team soigneur Megumi Saito, Gavazzi was back in fighting form and sprinting to his fourth stage win in five days

The 32-year-old Italian sprinter clipped five-time stage winner Marko Kump, who tied compatriot Luka Mezgec (Giant-Alpecin) on Friday for second most stage wins at Qinghai Lake, and Mykhaylo Kononenko (Kolss-BDC).

“Yesterday morning I have a fever and this morning I’m not good but I give it my all in the race and start to feel better and by the end I get the win,” said Gavazzi, who captured one more win than the team’s pre-race goal of three stages.

“As a Continental team it is often difficult for us to find quality races to compete in, but this week’s success gives us motivation to go out and continue to build upon what we are developing at Amore & Vita and find ways to fulfil our potential and make our sponsors happy.”

The action started after 20km when a six-rider break made its move, including Ilia Koshevoy (Lampre-Merida), Volodymyr Diudia (China Continental Team of Gansu Bank), two Synergy-Baku riders Markus Eibegger and Matej Mugerli, as well as two Kolss-BDC riders Blazej Janiaczyk and Oleksandr Polivoda – the latter of which took yellow for two days after claiming stage 3 atop Qinghai Lake. The gap extended to 1 minute 40 seconds before Adria Mobil and Amore & Vita-Selle SMP began to reel in the break for one final bunch sprint finish.

While Gavazzi owned the day, it was Radoslav Rogina (Adria Mobil) who won the race. The 36-year-old Croatian rode patiently behind 17-time race leader Hossein Alizadeh (RTS-Santic) until finally lifting the yellow leaders jersey from the Iranian – and former stage and race winner (2012) – on stage 10.

“I have been here three times and I came close to winning,” Rogina told Eurosport after the race. “This year I make it and that’s why I am so happy.

“I don’t know what to say…every race is hard to win, especially this one.

“My team and I did a really good job and we go home very happy.”

Rogina’s victory gives the Slovenian Continental team its first hors catégorie win, while Kump personally topped off a stellar week by claiming the green points jersey.

“Before the season we do not expect this kind of year,” said Adria Mobil sports director Bostjan Mervar. “We’ve won three tours now and it’s been a great success for us. I hope we can continue until the end of this season and into next year.”

Alizadeh may have lost yellow, but the 27-year-old finished with the ‘Best Asian Rider’ blue jersey. Colombian Francesco Colorado (Ningxia Sports Lottery-Focus) claimed the polka dot mountains classification after locking up the jersey on stage 10.

Aaron S. Lee | Follow on Twitter

Photos: Daebong Kim | 7Cycling