Jakub pedals on to win stage two at Qinghai despite massive pileup

Marecako Jakub of Italy celebrates as he crosses the finish line at Datong to win stage 2 of this year's Tour of Qinghai Lake. [Photo by Wang Yu /chinadaily.com.cn]

XINING, Qinghai province - Marecako Jakub (Wilier Triestina –Southeast) from Italy won stage two of the 2016 Tour of Qinghai Lake on July 18, one day after a mass pileup in Xining, capital of Northwest China's Qinghai province.

"Today no one fell down, I hope it will be the same situation in the next stages because yesterday was a bad day," Marecako said on Monday.

A spectator walked across the road in front of the speeding peloton with the finish in sight, which caused six bike cyclists injured during the opening stage of the Tour of Qinghai Lake on July 16, 2016.

"It is really just an accident, fortunately not too many riders injured," Ed Buchettethe International Association of Cycling Race Organizers vice-president, told China Daily on Tuesday.

"Accidents are very difficult even impossible to avoid in sports event and organizing committee should not take the blame for it," said Ed Buchette.

Meanwhile, media director Vincent Wathelet said, the "crash did happen, but, you know, days before, there is same crash in France."

Kenyan born British cyclist Chris Froome was brought down in a crash after a TV motorbike braked suddenly as the Tour of France reached its climax. Froome's bike was badly damaged and, with his support car far away, he picked himself up and began to run the last miles.

Also, in 2014, large crowds, combined with a mania for taking selfies with the peloton in the background, caused several crashes during the Tour's opening stages in England, according to a report in the New York Times.

"The Tour of Qinghai Lake is an important fixture on the UCI Asia Tour calendar that plays a significant role in the development of cycling in the region.

Since it was first organized in 2002, the Tour of Qinghai Lake has grown in popularity and stature," said Brian Cookson, UCI president.

"I believe the race will go up and up," Vincent Wathelet said.

The Tour of Qinghai Lake is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as a 2.HC (high-class) race as part of the Asia Tour.

The race pedaled off on July 17 in Xining of Qinghai province and ends on July 30 in Baiyin of Gansu province.

A total of 161 riders representing 23 professional, continental and regional teams from 15 countries and regions compete over 1,916 km, peaking at an altitude of 4,120 meters. This year's distance is longer than that of previous races. They will compete for a total prize pool of $1 million.

The Tour of Qinghai Lake brings greater focus, providing a big chance to promote the hosting cities and even the country.

"Most of the domestic and overseas visitors coming for the race will stay for a few extra days, so you can just imagine how big their impact would be during a longer stretch," said Song Aijun, an officer from the Qinghai Sports Bureau.

Indeed, in the past 14 years, the Tour of Qinghai Lake has contributed much to the local economy. The race has achieved accumulative total profits of 10 million yuan.