"XDS Cup" 2025 16th Tour of Hainan Opens in Qionghai, XDS-Astana Team's Matteo Malucelli Wins the First Stage

On the morning of April 7, 2025, the first stage of the "XDS Cup" 2025 16th Tour of Hainan Island International Road Cycling Race officially kicked off in Qionghai. As the only WorldTour team, XDS-Astana secured a strong start with sprinter Matteo Malucelli winning the stage. Malucelli also donned the yellow jersey, symbolizing the overall leader, and the green jersey for the sprint king. Kane Richards from the Luhai Insurance team won the first polka-dot jersey for the mountain king, while Yevgeniy Gidich from the Chinese Huaxing MENTECH Continental Team led the Asian riders' overall standings, wearing the blue jersey.

This year's opening ceremony was held on the race track for the first time, providing a unique experience for spectators. The event embodied the spirit of "opening up sports," aiming to let the public feel the charm of the event and enhance public services and happiness through the Tour. The ceremony featured local Li ethnic group dances and classic Peking Opera performances, such as "Mu Guiying Takes Command," adding to the festivities. Cycling enthusiasts also appeared on the stage, celebrating this sporting event with the audience. The chairman of Xidesheng Bicycle Co., Ltd., Tan Weilong, delivered a speech expressing his expectations and support for the event. The ceremony seamlessly connected to the race, allowing spectators to witness the start of the competition up close.

At 10:00 AM, the race officially began. The first stage started from the Qionghai Municipal Square in Jiaji Town, covering a distance of 90.34 kilometers, the shortest stage of this year's Tour. Qionghai, located in the eastern part of Hainan Province, is known as the "Cultural Town," "Overseas Chinese Town," and "Civilized Town." It is the hometown of the Red Detachment of Women and the permanent venue of the Boao Forum for Asia, famous for its hot springs and referred to as the "Hot Spring Town of China." The city combines natural landscapes of mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas with cultural attractions, making it a charming tourist destination in China.

From the starting point, riders headed east. There was an intermediate sprint at 16.9 kilometers and a Category 4 climb at 30.2 kilometers. Early in the race, the front of the pack was very active, with many riders attempting to break away but failing. At the intermediate sprint, Grosu Eduard-Michael from the Hengxiang-VONOA-Taiwan Continental Team, Henok Mulueberhan from Xidesheng-Astana, and Yevgeniy Gidich from the Chinese Huaxing MENTECH Continental Team took the top three spots. By the 18th kilometer, a four-man breakaway group formed, heading towards the Category 4 climb. Kane Richards from the Luhai Insurance team was the first to cross the climb, followed closely by Carman Ben from the St George Continental Team and Bolor-Erdene Enkhtaivan from the Hengxiang-VONOA-Taiwan Continental Team. Nils Sinschek showed strong determination, staying with the leading group until being caught by the main pack about 4 kilometers from the finish.

Ultimately, the race concluded with a mass sprint, where Matteo Malucelli from Xidesheng-Astana won the stage and took the yellow jersey. Malucelli expressed his gratitude to his teammates and stated that their first goal of winning the stage had been achieved. He noted that the team's second goal was to contend for the overall championship, but winning the first stage would also bring pressure to maintain their lead. Malucelli praised the performance of their X-LAB vehicle, which demonstrated excellent stability and speed in high-speed conditions.

Kane Richards, who actively participated in the breakaway and secured the polka-dot jersey, was satisfied with his performance in the first stage. He hoped to keep the jersey throughout the competition. Richards mentioned that the weather was cooler than last year's race, where he lost the jersey due to heat exhaustion.

Tomorrow, the race will enter its second stage, the "Pik Sports" Qionghai-Wanning-Lingshui stage, covering 178.1 kilometers with two intermediate sprints and a Category 2 climb. Fans are encouraged to continue following the Tour to witness the riders' outstanding performances.