Nguyễn Tấn Hoài of Domesco Đồng Tháp celebrates his win at the HCM City Television Cycling Cup. Photo Huỳnh Văn Thuận

HÀ NỘI Nguyễn Tấn Hoài won the first stage of the HCM City Television Cycling Cup yesterday.

Hoài of Domesco Đồng Tháp finished the 54km stage around Vinh City’s President Hồ Chí Minh Square inf Nghệ An Province with a time of 1hr 14.56min.

He was followed by Nguyễn Trường Tài of HCM City and Huỳnh Thanh Tùng of Military Zone 7.

Top favourite Lê Nguyệt Minh of HCM City suffered a broken chain just a hundred metres from the finish line.

Int he team rankings, HCM City are on top, with Đồng Tháp in second and Lộc Trời Group in third.

The second stage today will cover 199km from Vinh to Đồng Hới City in Quảng Bình Province.

The tournament is the first professional sporting event to be held after the easing of the social distancing due to the coronavirus.

It is traditionally held in April and has been delayed for more than a month.

This year, 12 teams with 84 cyclists will compete over 18 stages covering more than 2,200km. They will finish in HCM City on June 7. VNS