Eduard Grosu claims second sprint victory at 17th Qinghai Lake

With the general classification all but wrapped up for race leader Hernan Aguirre (Manzana Postobón) following his second stage victory over four days in the mountains at the 2018 Tour of Qinghai Lake (UCI 2.HC), Stage 7 was back in favour of the sprinters on Saturday.

Two days after taking second during a contested finish, recently crowned Romanian road race champion Eduard Grosu (Nippo-Vini Fantini) found himself back on top of the podium for his second win of the week after capturing a Stage 3 victory on Tuesday.

After a four-man break was foiled with 60 kilometres to go, Grosu bested current points leader Luca Pacioni (Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia), who has two runner-up stage results and a third place to his credit in Qinghai Lake this week, and Tim Ariesen (Ningxia Sports Lottery-Livall) in a bunch sprint finish in Menyuan, China.

“It was an amazing stage,” said the 25-year-old, who won the first of his Qinghai Lake stage wins in 2014. “I know the stage from last year, and I know I can win because it was a bit hard at the start and Brenton Jones and the other sprinters are not so good in the climb, and I have a good chance to win.

“It was a very fast sprint,” explained Grosu further regarding the 169-kilometre stage with one catégorie 1 climb near the 100km mark. “In the last 10 kilometres, [Filippo] Pozatto attacked on the left side and I wanted to follow him. I was in fifth or sixth place in the last 300 metres, I start too early not like in Stage 5 and I have good legs and I can win.”

Grosu had admittedly stated earlier in the race the elevation was problem since he opted to race the Sibiu Cycling Tour (2.1) in lieu of attending an altitude training camp. And after Friday’s queen stage summit finish at 4120m, he was surprised with his form considering.

“I already don’t feel good, yesterday after the stage I had bad sensations, but today I feel good so that’s important for me,” admitted Grosu on the effects of elevation in the highest altitude bike race in the world.

With no changes on general classification or the polka-dot mountains jersey, both belonging to Aguirre, the race continues on Sunday with its eighth stage of 13 continuing on the longest stage of the two-week race — a 237km stage from Qingshizui to Zhangye, featuring two catégorie two climbs inside the first 100km before what is expected to be another bunch sprint unless a breakaway can ride clear.

For full stage and race results, click here.