South Africa’s cycling team leader, Ryan Cox, has moved up to fifth overall following the fourth stage of the Tour of Qinghai Lake in China on Tuesday.
Cox is still suffering from a stomach problem but he is only seconds off the lead. In fact, the first 10 riders in the tour are only separated by 40 seconds with at least five sprinters among them.
”Cox finished in the front group today in 13th place and moved up to fifth place on GC,” said the team’s manager, Tony Harding. ”Three riders in the top five are sprinters, so when the big climbs come on Thursday they won’t be a factor anymore and Ryan should move up.”
According to Harding, Cox’s closest rival will be well-known Iranian Gader Mizbani. He is in seventh place, four seconds behind Cox.
Tiaan Kannemeyer is in 22nd overall, three minutes down, while Malcolm Lange and Jeremy Maartens (33rd, 34th) are also riding high up in general classification.
Viktor Rapinski (Navigators) is leading the race with his teammate Jeffrey Lauder in second, Iglinskiy Maxim (Kazak) in third, Philip Zajicek (Navigators) in fourth and Cox in fifth place. — Sapa