STAGE 4: Bird Island - Xihaizhen 152 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Manan(DLS) **Lobato(CIA) *Docker(DTS)

We were very pleased that Sulimani managed to make the 13 man break of the day despite not feeling 100%, but once again the marauding peloton would devour the break with 10 kilometres to go. Thanks to work from Rusvelo and the sprinter teams.

But with 5 kilometres to go there was a huge crash in the middle of the peloton, involving race leader Moreno. The peloton don't let up and there would be a new leader.

Westra crosses the line first for an unexpected win, showing he can win in a sprint against less consistent opposition. Kupeshov was feeling good and gets denied a top10 in the closing meters.

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STAGE 5: Xiahiazhen - Mole 123 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Manan(DLA) **Docker(DTS) *Lobato(CIA)

Another predominantly flat stage with the last 20 kilometres being downhill.

Rodrigues summits the early KOM point as part of 12 man break and that is good enough, combined with his points already, to take the lead in the KOM competition.
With terrain favouring the break, with 18 kilometres to go the break had 1:40 and with 10 kilometres to go the break had 1:20, the break would succeed.

Rodrigues and Saur's day got a lot sweeter as the Portugese outsprinted his break companions and held off the rampaging peloton. Nateghi and Kupeshov were in excellent positions but fell off the pace in the closing meters.

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STAGE 6: Qilian - Qilian 103 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Manan(DLA) **Docker(DTS) *Lobato(CIA)

Another flat stage circling Qilian a good seven times, there is some climbing on the lap but nothing to detour the sprinters.

After a good forty kilometres no break had established when Couts(Panathinaikos) attacked, then our very own 'wild man' Al Zaid came from the back of the bunch and attacked, feeling on a good day no doubt.
The two men worked together very well, riding well especially through the snowy torment which occurred up until 20 kilometres to go.

The two men were never any danger but many teams were willing to chase and everyone was together with 8 kilometres to go. Dual Temp had two men infront of Docker at the head of the race, Yildiz is on his wheel, but can't follow, should I be regretting offering him a new contract? I wonder.
Docker has a commanding lead but goes too early, it is anyone's race, Westra comes through in the end for his second victory and takes the GC lead.

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STAGE 7: Qilian - Menyuan 170 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Manan(DLA) **Docker(DTS) *Lobato(CIA)

Another day for the sprinters, the last 80 kilometres being mostly downhill after the first half of the stage which is mostly gentle climbing terrain.

Stage winner Rodrigues attacked early on looking to retain his mountains jersey but second place Rowsell took the 6 points at the first KOM sprint which was good enough for him to take over that jersey. A 13 man break broke away including former GC leader Moreno. But with Dukla, Dual Temp and Cantabria on the front the break had little chance.

The break were caught with 10 kilometres to go. With 4 kilometres to go we have Yildiz in a great position on the wheel of points leader Lobato in seventh wheel when ....Unbelievably Yildiz hits the deck, he is the only rider to go down aswell!

With 3 kilometres to go there is another crash, this time it includes many riders including Kupeshov and C.S.Long. C.S.Long would retire with a broken shin bone, not good news.

In the yellow jersey Westra wins his third stage from a depleted bunch sprint, a remarkable achievement considering he wasn't really considered a sprinter before the start of this race, he narrowly leads the points jersey competition as well. Nateghi finished safely in the main bunch.

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STAGE 8: Xining - Lanzhou 239 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Manan(DLA) **Lobato(CIA) *Docker(DTS)

Due to the length the stage is a real killer although it is mostly downhill.

The first hour of racing was hectic with the peloton not wanting a break to establish, Ben Nasr was feeling great and attacked three times strongly, but to no avail. It took a good 65 kilometres before a break was established, it contained 10 men including Rubiano and Pirazzi.

After Argos Oil had done much of the early work, with 100 kilometres to go the usual suspect sprinter teams came to the for, the break always being well under control and were eventually caught with 13 kilometres to go. For us Kupeshov and Yildiz were feeling great.

Yildiz was on the wheel of Westra and Kupeshov was on the wheel of Lobato..

but they were not the perfect wheels to follow today, Manan finally gets a victory for Dukla after a long day in the saddle.

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