Challenging Day in the Mountains at Tour of China

Race: 2018 Tour of China I, Stage 2

Location: Pingchang / Pingchang, China

Distance: 140.6 kilometers

PINGCHANG, CHINA – Team Novo Nordisk charged up into the mountains of China on Sunday, scaling three peaks in a roaring peloton in stage two at the Tour of China I.

Stage two was raced in northeast Sichuan, an 81-million person province in the middle of the country. The 21 international teams in the peloton covered 140km with three categorized climbs before finishing a large loop to arrive back at the morning’s start line after three and a half hours of racing.

The world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team finished the hilly stage with an eye to the future, leading with neo-pro Declan Irvine across the line first on a day that saw many challenges at the front.

On Monday the Tour of China I moves to northern Sichuan and the start city of Bazhong. At 158km stage three will be the longest stage so far in the 2018 edition of the 9-year old race.

Gallery:

Results:

1st: Juan Sebastián Molano (Manzana Postobon): 3:24:57

2nd: Mingrun Chen (Hengxiang Cycling Team): ”

3rd: Sergio Higuita (Manzana Postobon): ”

76th: Declan Irvine: 21:09 behind Molano

(Photos: ©Anne Wu)