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Monday, 18 October 2010

Heavy rain delays Hainan cycle race

Cyclists compete at the raining 7th stage of 2010 Tour of Hainan from Qiongzhong to Xinglong on Sunday. Kenny van Hummel of the Skil-Shimano team won the stage while Valentin Iglinskiy of the UCI world No 1 pro team, Astana, kept the yellow jersey for six consecutive stages. The previous stage from Haikou to Chengmai was canceled due to the storm.

Danzhou, Hainan – Kenny van Hummel of the Skil-Shimano team won the 7th stage of 2010 cycle Tour of Hainan from Qiongzhong to Danzhou on Sunday by 1 hr 25 min 22 seconds while Valentin Iglinskiy of the UCI world No 1 pro team, Astana, kept the yellow jersey for six consecutive stages.

Iglinskiy is now also the holder of the green jersey as the best rider of the sprint while Arkaitz Duran of the Spain's Footon-Servetto-Fuji team is by far doing best in the mountain race, wearing the polka-dot jersey.

Sunday's race was delayed for about two hours and the start point was switched to Qiongzhong from Chengmai due to heavy rain. The previous stage from Haikou to Chengmai had been canceled due to the storm.

Referees didn't exclude the possibility of canceling the two stages ahead or adjusting the route as the island is suffering some of its worst storms in 50 years, which has forced more than 440,000 residents to be evacuated.

Starting in Sanya last Monday, the race moves counter-clockwise around Hainan Island and passes through 18 cities before finishing in Sanya on Oct 19.

The event, which began in 2006, was upgraded this year from a continental 2.2 classification to 2.HC, an elite men's race one level below Europe's three Grand Tours. The only other Asian races at that level are the Tour of Langkawi in Malaysia and Tour of Qinghai Lake in China.

This year's total prize money is $280,000, thanks to 18 local sponsors, including Timton International hotel and Hainan beer.