"XDS Cup" 16th Tour of Hainan 2025 Concludes Successfully

On the afternoon of April 11, 2025, the “XDS Cup” 2025 16th Tour of Hainan concluded successfully in Sanya. In the final Stage 5, Alexander SALBY from LI NING STAR Team claimed the stage victory, while PENALVER Manuel from TEAM POLTI VISITMALTA and MALUCELLI Matteo from XDS Astana Team secured second and third places, respectively. 

Following the race, the winners of the jerseys were confirmed: 

- Yellow Jersey (General Classification leader): TSARENKO Kyrylo (SOLUTION TECH VINI FANTINI) 

- Blue Jersey (Best Asian Rider): PRONSKIY Vadim (TERENGGANU CYCLING TEAM) 

- Polka-dot Jersey (King of the Mountains):SINSCHEK Nils (PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG) 

- Green Jersey (Sprint Points leader): BERASATEGI Xabier (EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI) 

The final stage, starting at Dongfang Cultural Square and finishing in Sanya along the scenic coastal route, was a predominantly flat stage designed for sprinters. With a narrow lead in the General Classification, TSARENKO Kyrylo had to defend his Yellow Jersey with only two remaining teammates, while sprinters battled for the final Green Jersey. The stage featured two intermediate sprints at the 92 km and 122.3 km, with the finish at Sanya’s Xinfeng Street intersection. 

Sanya, located at the southern tip of Hainan Island and nicknamed "the Deer City" or the "Oriental Hawaii," is a tropical coastal city renowned for its stunning beaches, flourishing rainforests, and fresh seafood. Popular tourist destinations include Yalong Bay, Haitang Bay, Sanya Bay, and the Great East Sea, along with iconic attractions such as Tianya Haijiao, Fairyland, and Wuzhizhou Island. 

At 9:30 AM, 115 riders signed in before the race commenced. Early breakaway attempts were made, including one at the 17 km by BATSAIKHAN Tegshbayar (ROOJAI INSURANCE), MOHD ZARIFF Mohamad Nur Aiman (TERENGGANU CYCLING TEAM), BEREZNYAK Aleksandr (CHENGDU DYC CYCLING TEAM), and ZHENG Bowen (P FNIX - SCOM - HENGXIANG CYCLING TEAM), but they were quickly reeled in. 

A more promising breakaway formed at 46 km, with AGIRRE Jon (EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI), GARCIA FRANCES Pablo (TEAM POLTI VISITMALTA), and IVANOV Timofei (CHENGDU DYC CYCLING TEAM) opening a one-minute gap before being caught before the first intermediate sprint. 

At the first sprint (92 km), MULUEBERHAN Henok and GATE Aaron (XDS ASTANA TEAM) took first and third, while BERASATEGI Xabier (EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI) secured second. The second sprint (122.3 km) was won by MONK Cyrus (FNIX - SCOM - HENGXIANG CYCLING TEAM), followed by DINA Marton (EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI) and CAHYADI Aiman (TERENGGANU CYCLING TEAM). 

In the final 20 km, the peloton chased down a late break by ALLENO Clement (BURGOS-BURPELLET-BH), KMINEK Vojtech(BURGOS-BURPELLET-BH), and BEREZNYAK Aleksandr (CHENGDU DYC CYCLING TEAM), setting up a bunch sprint. Alexander SALBY (LI NING STAR) triumphed, with PENALVER Manuel and MALUCELLI Matteo completing the podium. The Most Aggressive Rider award went to ALLENO Clement (BURGOS-BURPELLET-BH). 

"I can’t believe we could secure the Yellow Jersey, but winning it was a moment of pure joy—I’m speechless. Honestly, at the start, I didn’t think we could defend it with just two riders, but we managed perfectly and made it happen." TSARENKO Kyrylo said after race.

Alexander SALBY (Stage 5 Winner, LI NING STAR):"Securing second in GC was crucial for us, so we gave everything on the road. Personally, I felt strong today and saved energy for the finale. The team worked hard to bring back the breakaway, but I had to go alone in the final kilometers. I followed the right wheels, saw an opening, and launched a long sprint—luckily, my legs held on for the win. I’m thrilled to deliver this victory for the team and my girlfriend—today’s her birthday, so this one’s for her!"*  

On racing in Hainan: 

"I really enjoyed it—the weather was perfect, and the roads were fantastic. Being part of a Chinese team made it special, with great staff support that played a huge role in our success. This was my second race in China, and I’ve performed well both times. I love it here, so why wouldn’t I come back?"

With that, the Tour of Hainan 2025 concluded in spectacular fashion. See you next year!