Cycling

Nguyễn Thị Bé Hồng of Đồng Tháp (left) passes Solovyeva Anzhela of Kazakhstan at the finish line of the Bình Dương International Women's Cycling Tournament's seventh stage on March 12. — Photos Cycling News

PHAN THIẾT — Nguyễn Thị Bé Hồng outclassed foreign opponents to win the seventh stage of the Bình Dương International Women's Cycling Tournament on March 12.

The teenager from Đồng Tháp made an impressive performance on the 130km route from Phan Rang Tháp Chàm City to Phan Thiết City, Bình Thuận Province in very hot weather.

Many attacks were launched from the beginning the tournament but no rider could run away from the whole bunch.

At the 70km mark, Hồng, Solovyeva Anzhela of Kazakhstan and Anujin Jinjiibadam of Iranian Crowncycling team Iran successfully escaped to lead the race, set up a one-minute gap to the chasing pack.

Riders from strong teams such as Biwase Bình Dương, Thailand national team, Lộc Trời, Group and Japanese Gerbera Club tried to catch up with them but their effort did not work.

Near the finish line, Hồng sped up and left two rivals behind to win the stage in a time of 3hr 13.59min.

Anzhela and Jinjiibadam were a just a hair's width behind her.

Hồng, 2023 Asian youth championship winner, was the second Vietnamese cyclist to win a stage in the 10-stage event. The first was national Nguyễn Thị Thu Mai of Lộc Trời Group in the second stage.

Cyclists in action during the seventh stage of the Bình Dương International Women's Cycling Tournament.

After seven stages, Russian Natalia Frolova of Biwase Bình Dương was in the top place overall.

Gulnaz Khatuntnseva of ION Gold Biwase and Yurina Kinoshita of Gerbera team were second and third, respectively.

Thai Jutatip Maneephan took the blue jersey for the best point rider after losing it on March 11. She has pocketed 56 points, five more than Thu Mai.

In the team table, Kazakhstan jumped to the top, followed by Đồng Tháp and Lộc Trời Group.

The eighth stage will be on 116km from Phan Thiết to Gagi Town. — VNS