Stage Favourites:
Van Poppel (VCD) Kennedy (MTN) Fenn (OPQ) Trentin (OPQ) Schnaidt (CSS)


And ..... we are off!

Voltali Feunard (Accent) has to something to write about as he is seen attacking, mixing it up, early on in the stage. However, Voltali only showed himself briefly today, he would not make the break.


A sign of things to come? ......

With only two riders (Gerard/ Hovelynck) out-front at the first intermediate sprint there were two points and two bonus seconds on offer for the next to cross the line. Kennedy (MTN) outsprints Van Poppel to claim the remaining points with 114 KM to go, if Kennedy could win this battle could he win the stage later on?


The Break: Gerard, Hovelynck, Boev & De Vreese

The traditional break of the day was established soon after, with no EPIC teams represented.


It is not easy being a control team rider.

Control Techniques prop up the rear of the peloton, the pace is easy so, even without bicycles, even they can stay in contact.



Lampre, Vacansoleil & MTN - Qhubeka are the teams which take up the chase today. With Gerard caught everyone is together as the last 3 kilometres have been reached.


Lampre & Vacansoleil dominate the lead-out.

Pietropoli --------------- Ligthart
Cimolai -------------- Van Poppel
Pozzato ------------- Van Poppel
Schnaidt --------------------------

It looks like the winner will come from this bunch. Algerian champ, Reguigui, is leading out Kennedy but they look to be too far back today.



With just a few hundred meters to go D Van Poppel is in pole position as he launches his sprint. However, a good sprint from Pozzato or Schnaidt, who is waiting to pounce, may take the win.......


Win for Schnaidt!

Without a doubt Fabian Schnaidt was the fastest sprinter today. He came past Pozzato (3rd) like a rocket and was able to catch and pass D Van Poppel (2nd) to take the win by a bike length.


Schnaidt leads the Tour of Qinghai Lake

The decision to train Schnaidt, more so than other riders, has already paid dividends for Champion Systems. The Chinese team have now completed their goal for the race and we aren't even 10% through!

Stage Favourites:
Duarte (COL) Caruso (CAN) Johnson (CSS) Rabottini (VIN) Failli (VIN)

Difficult stage to classify. Aside from the HC mountain in the middle of the stage it is pretty flat. The climbers are the favourites but we look set to end with a bunch sprint, can Schnaidt hold the GC lead?



Champion Systems go about protecting the race lead early on.


Kazakh, Sagdijev, makes the break.

Today, the four man break consists of: Clancy, Delfosse, Wallays & Sagdijev. Nice to see some EPIC interest there.

(LEFT) No that isn't the Gobi desert that is manmade desolation. Much of China has been created into a wasteland after they killed the bees with their chemical fertilizers, subsequently the land died. Not too clever.


Stybar on the attack!

The Czech champion attacks, whilst on the mountain with 72 KM to go and the break at 6'00. He is joined by Brandle, De Maar and Pomoshnikov. Considering the start list Stybar might be one of the top 10 climbers here.

Team Columbia, Cannondale and Champion systems, three EPIC teams, are setting the pace.


Meanwhile ....

Further up the road Delfosse takes the max KOM points at the HC summit and will be the first guy to don the polka dots here.


Both breaks join up.

The Sybar quartet joins the original break of the day to form an 8 man group with 33 KM to go. It is nothing but downhill and flat terrain to the finish. The 8 man group, however, look well in control as the, almost complete, bunch is only 1'50 behind.


Reserves a Plenty!

The break are not going down without a fight. Stybar and Delfosse, in particular, go on the offensive incessantly and distance the rest of the attackers.

It looked a sure thing that the break would be caught but with the strength of Stybar and Delfosse and the peloton not working too well it looks as if Schnaidt will be kissing goodbye to his yellow jersey.



4 KM to go: Stybar/ Delfosse - Peloton @ '45

Stybar and Delfosse will fight out the win today, the Czech leads the duo into the final few hundred meters. The peloton weren't committed enough today.


Stybar wins!

The Czech holds off, a very strong on the day, Delfosse to take the win and the race lead. Delfosse moves up to 2nd but has the consolation of the polka dot jersey.

The next to come home are some of the breakaway men who managed to hold off the peloton followed by a rag and tag collection of Columbia and Cannondale domestiques who lead the peloton home. Schnaidt finished down in 34th, loses the GC lead, which suggest the mountain took a bit out of him today.

So Stybar takes the race lead, how long can he hold it for?