Tour of Qinghai Lake (2.HC) Roadmap July 22 Stage 1 - Ledu › Xining (162k) July 23 Stage 2 - Xining › Xining (115km) July 24 Stage 3 - Duoba › Guide (133km) July 25 Stage 4 - Guide › Longyangxia (100km) July 26 Stage 5 - Longyangxia › Bird Islet (235km) July 27 Stage 6 - Dadongshu Yakou › Qilian (66km) July 28 Stage 7 - Qilian › Menyuan (169km) July 29 Stage 8 - Menyuan › Zhangye (237km) July 30 Stage 9 - Jinchang › Wuwei (175km) August 1 Stage 10 - Wuwei › Wuwei (124km) August 2 Stage 11 - Zhongwei › Zhongwei (110km) August 3 Stage 12 - Yinchuan › Yinchuan (107km) August 4 Stage 13 - Lanzhou › Lanzhou (108km) RWANDA international and Africa’s top-rated cyclist Joseph Areruya and his French side Delko Marseille Provence KTM have arrived in China ahead of the 17th Tour of Qinghai Lake. The 2018 edition of the annual event gets underway on Sunday and runs through August 4 in the People’s Government of Qinghai Province and other parts of the world’s most populous country. The 22-year old Areruya becomes the first Rwandan cyclist to take part in the Chinese race. Composed of 13 stages – covering 1,738.4 kilometres, the race will be contested by 22 teams and a total 217 cyclists. Venezuela’s Yonathan Monsalve is the reigning champion. Areruya is part of a seven-rider Delko Marseille Provence KTM’s roster in China along with Guerin Alexis, Jones Brenton, Kasperkiewicz Przemystaw, Siskevicus Evaldas, Smukulis Gatis and Julien Trareieux. Areruya is making his first appearance for the French UCI Pro Continental Team since last month when he claimed the Individual Time Trial (ITT) category before finishing sixth in the main road race at this year’s National Championship on June 23 and 24 respectively. While in the race, the former South Africa’s Team Dimension Data rider will tackle two of his career’s longest and most grueling stages; a 235-kilometre Stage 5 from Longyangxia to Bird Islet and Stage 8 from Menyuan to Zhangye – 237 kilometres. Delko Marseille Provence KTM delegation, comprised of seven riders and five staff, left France for China on Wednesday morning and are supposed to have their first training in China today. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
