Li Pengcheng and Li Si win the 10th anniversary edition

Li Pengcheng rode his lungs out on the monster climb of 36 km in length to Maoniuping (Yak Plateau at 3200m altitude) to win the 10th anniversary edition of Granfondo Yunnan in Lijiang yesterday. It was a fantastic battle between the top 7 riders in the general classification who each threw their cards on the table in a real cycling thriller. Despite several attempts to break away, a big group crossed the top of the first climb of the day at km 35. In the following long descent (1km vertical), South Africans Luke Chambers and Channing Forrester took a small advantage over the group with the other favourites. Chambers looked vulnerable uphill quite quickly, and so did yellow jersey Wu Bao Chao. Gong Bai Mo and 19-year-old Chuxiong sensation Chen Yusheng accelerated and broke away. Wang Wen tried to hang on, but had to let go. In the distance, Yang Zidong rode in the wheel of Li Pengcheng with Chambers and Wu Bao Chao further back.

A few kilometres further up the mountain, Li Pengcheng suddenly appeared at the front as he caught up with Gong Bai Mo and Chen Yusheng. Li Pengcheng immediately went to the front to set the pace, knowing he had to make up 2'56" on Wu Bao Chao and over a minute on Chambers. For Gong Bai Mo, the pace was too high and he fell back. Chen Yusheng grit his teeth together in the wheel of Li Pengcheng. He held on for quite a while but at km 81 he lost contact. A visibly struggling Li Pengcheng, breathing heavily, pushed as hard as he could to make up the necessary time. He won the prestigious stage and as soon as he crossed the line the clock started ticking. While everyone was expecting Chen Yusheng to arrive next, it was instead Wang Wen who had come back strong with yellow jersey Wu Bao Chao shortly behind him! Their efforts ensured a podium spot for both of them in the GC, but Li Pengcheng's gap turned out too big. Wu Bao Chao lost 4'47" and thus his yellow jersey. It also means that the yellow jersey changed hands every day in this year's Granfondo Yunnan. Luke Chambers finished fourth and that was also his place in GC.

Li Si was the best woman once again and remained therefore unthreatened to win the overall Granfondo Yunnan for women. However, in Lijiang she was pushed forward by Wang Yue, who finished under a minute behind her. Li Xiong Pan was third, and moved up to second place in GC - ahead of aforementioned Wang Yue.