XDS Cup Tour of Hainan stage 3 results: Aaron Gate takes victory with sensational late attack
Kiwi rider makes surprise attack inside final kilometre to take race lead, as compatriot Luke Mudgway’s brave move falls just short
After having shown themselves full of enthusiasm throughout the opening two stages, Burgos-BH finally got their moment in the sun on stage 3 of the XDS Cup Tour of Hainan. Not only did the 33-year-old Aaron Gate win the stage with a late attack, but the Spanish outfit now hold three of the four major classifications, as well as the team classification.
Seeing his stage win rewarded with the overall lead of the race and the points classification, Gate was equally delighted to be joined in the day’s podium presentations by teammate Jambaljamts Sainbayer, who now leads the King of the Mountains classification.
It was an audacious move that brought victory to Gate, with the versatile sprinter-cum-lead-out man attacking a small peloton just a kilometre from the line in Wuzhishan. Showing a strong turn of pace, Gate punched out of the saddle and burst free of his rivals, who could only watch as he held a small six-second gap over the finish line. Forced to settle for the minor placings, Wilmar Paredes (Team Medellín-EPM) and Henok Mulueberhan (Astana Qazaqstan) finished in second and third place, respectively.
Earlier in the stage, Róbigzon Leandro Oyola (Team Medellín-EPM) and Alex Vandenbulcke (Tarteletto-Isorex) had formed a productive alliance, but it was Ling Ni Star’s Luke Mudgway who would capture the hearts of those watching. Attacking alone with 60km to ride, the Kiwi held a three-minute advantage at the foot of the final climb but fell just short of reaching the top alone. Captured a kilometre from the summit, Mudgway could do nothing to stop Gate and co. from contesting the victory on Thursday afternoon.
A reliable performance from Astana Qazaqstan’s Alexey Lutsenko saw the Kazakh cross the ride in the chasing group, thereby shooting him up the general classification and into the lead of the blue jersey, marking the best-placed Asian rider in the race. Vandenbulcke, meanwhile, was awarded the prize of being the day’s most aggressive rider.
How it happened
Team Medellín-EPM and Tarteletto-Isorex represented in the break
Beginning in the coastal city of Lingshui, stage 3 of the XDS Cup Tour of Hainan was to be the first day for the climbers in the bunch. Totalling 181.3km in length, the stage from Lingshui to Wuzhishan would take the riders over four categorised climbs, two of which were slated as category 1 tests. As such, there was no time to dawdle from the flag drop.
Within minutes, a group of 16 riders clipped off the front of the peloton but their excursion would be short-lived, as would that of George Jackson (Burgos-BH), Mattia Pinazzi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizané) and Bilguunjargal Erdenebat (Ferei Quick-Panda Podium Mongolia), the three of whom enjoyed only a fleeting attack.
After winning stage 2 in style, Erdenebat’s team were back at it in the first intermediate sprint on Thursday. Their blue and white brigade amassed at the front of the race after 28km to lead Martin Laas into position. Holder of both the yellow and green jerseys, the Estonian was keen to extend his advantage in the points classification, but Corratec-Vini Fantini had other ideas. Their star man Jakub Mareczko pipped Laas on the line to take maximum points, with Timothy Dupont (Tarteletto-Isorex) rounding out the top three.
It was not until after 60km that the first true attack went clear, with Róbigzon Leandro Oyola (Team Medellín-EPM) and Alex Vandenbulcke (Tarteletto-Isorex) forming a two-up partnership shortly before the second intermediate sprint. It was Oyola who led Vandenbulcke across the line in Baoting, whilst José Manuel Díaz of Burgos-BH took the minor placing after setting off in pursuit. The Spaniard’s effort would not stand the test of time, however, with Díaz dropping back to his teammates in the pack.
Clearly satisfied to enjoy a lull in proceedings, the peloton tapped out a gentle rhythm before the day’s first categorised climb, allowing the advantage of Oyola and Vandebulcke to exceed one minute. The Dabenling ascent was classified as a category 1 ascent, averaging 4.3% for 7.9km, with the day’s first KOM points on offer at its summit.
Vandenbulcke was the first man to cross the peak, with Oyola bringing up the rear. Meanwhile, in the peloton, Jambaljamts Sainbayar (Burgos-BH), Nils Sinschek (Parkhotel-Valkenburg), Muhamad Zawawi Azman (Malaysia Pro Cycling) and Haojian Zeng (Hainan Wuzhishan) claimed third, fourth, fifth and sixth place, respectively. Rolling through the Wuzhishan Mountains in nigh-on 40-degree temperatures, Oyola and Vandenbulcke maintained a gap of 1:35 with 100km of racing in the legs.
Approaching the second KOM (1.7km at 5%), the duo out front lost a minute in just 10km, with the peloton winding things up from behind. Over the category 3 climb, it was Oyola’s turn to sweep up the maximum points with Vandenbulcke in his wheel, whilst Sainbayer and Ivan Smirnov (Astana Qazaqstan) placed third and fourth, respectively. This swing in favour of the peloton would mark the beginning of the end for Oyola and Vandenbulcke, their time out front numbered.
Audacious attacks from the Kiwis provide entertainment in Wuzhishan
The Shuiman Border was up next, deemed a category 3 ascent at 5.6% for 2.1km. On these short but punishing slopes, the breakaway was caught and Sainbayer rose to prominence. The Mongolian crossed the summit first, followed by Miguel Ángel Fernández (Equipo Kern Pharma), Vandenbulcke and Sinschek. Not having shown themselves in the first 120km, Li Ning Star soon joined the fun, sending Luke Mudgway up the road.
Determined to make his mark, Mudgway rode strongly to gain an advantage of almost three minutes over the pack with 40km to ride. Surprisingly, this gap held firm for the next 20km as Mudgway pushed on through the dense vegetation that defines the Wuzhishan Mountains. Surrounded by a rich tapestry of green, yellow and brown, the Kiwi held 3:15 over his chasers with 20km to ride, 10km of which would be on the final climb of the day.
The category 1 ascent held an average gradient of 5.7%, leaving only a quick descent to the finish beyond its summit. As a handy descender with knowledge of the local roads, Mudgway knew that should he crest the climb alone, he would prove a hard man to catch before Wuzhishan City. Unfortunately for the Kiwi, the peloton was well aware of the threat he posed and in turn, made a concerted effort to narrow the deficit. It was the French contingent of St Michel-Mavic-Auber93 who could be credited with the chase, all of whom left nothing on the roads in their pursuit of the lone leader.
Beginning to feel the bite of the final slopes, Mudgway suffered towards the top of the climb and despite his best efforts, he was caught by the reduced peloton in the final kilometre. The 28-year-old had produced one of the best rides of the race during his 60km solo attack, but it was to no avail. Instead, it was his compatriot Aaron Gate (Burgos-BH) who would steal the stage honours from under the peloton’s nose.
As the flamme rouge beckoned, the reduced bunch was together as one following a fast descent of the final climb. Most of the fans in attendance expected to see a sprint decide the stage honours, but with a kilometre to ride, Gate had other ideas. Sensing his moment to strike, the 33-year-old burst free of the group and made his bid for home. It was an acceleration that would not be countered, with Gate crossing the line some six seconds ahead of his chasers, who were led by Wilmar Paredes (Team Medellín-EPM) and Henok Mulueberhan (Astana Qazaqstan) in second and third place, respectively.
"XDS Cup"2024 The 15th Tour of Hainan, It is jointly organized by the General Administration of Sport ofChina, the People’s Government of Hainan Province, hosted by Chinese Cycling Association, Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province, Sanya City People’s Government, Qionghai City People’sGovernment, Wuzhishan City People’s Government, Lingshui Li Autonomous County People’s Government, Changjiang Li Autonomous County People’s Government, Co-organized by Wanning City People’s Government, DongfangCity People’s Government, Ledong Li Autonomous County People’s Government, Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County People’s Government, Baisha Li Autonomous County People’s Government, Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County People’s Government, Hainan Sports Lottery Administration Center, Sports Events Center of Hainan Province, jointly operated by Hainan Radio, Film and Television Media Group Co., Ltd. and Tour of Hainan International Cycling Race Co., Ltd. , title sponsored by Shenzhen Xidesheng Bicycle Co. , Ltd.
