Aggressive Attack Bears Fruit! GATE Aaron Wins Second Victory for XDS ASTANA TEAM, SINSCHEK Nils Secures Polka-dot Jersey

On the afternoon of April 10, 2025, the fourth stage of the "XDS Cup" 16th Tour of Hainan concluded in Dongfang, Hainan. XDS ASTANA TEAM's aggressive strategy throughout the race finally paid off as GATE Aaron secured the team's second victory in the stage. GATE Aaron launched an early sprint at the finish, showcasing his superior sprinting ability to take the win. RIKUNOV Petr of the CHENGDU DYC CYCLING TEAM followed closely to claim second place, while CHIA BERMUDEZ Luis Carlos of the HUANSHENG-VONOA-TAISHAN SPORT TEAM finished third. After this stage, except for CHIA BERMUDEZ Luis Carlos, who took the sprint leader's green jersey by finishing third in the stage, none of the other jerseys changed hands.

This stage, which started from the Baoting Moon Leisure Square, featured continuous climbs in the first half, including a Category 1 climb at 25 km, and two Category 3 climbs at 39.1 km and 47.4 km. The riders then headed to Ledong, competing in intermediate sprints at 74.7 km and 93.4 km. The final climb was at Yulong Mountain at 138.4 km.

The race began at 9:30 AM with 119 riders signing in. SINSCHEK Nils, who had secured the polka-dot jersey by winning three most aggressive awards and leading the first Category 1 climb, solidified his hold on the jersey. XDS ASTANA TEAM then initiated aggressive attacks, with GATE Aaron and MULUEBERHAN Henok actively participating in breakaways and securing the top two sprint points at the 74.7 km intermediate sprint. SEVILLA RIVERA Oscar Miguel of the TEAM MEDELLIN - EPM also performed impressively, earning points at all four climbs and being awarded the best aggressive prize for the stage.

The climax of the race occurred in the final 50 km, after all climbs had been completed. MULUEBERHAN Henok and GATE Aaron, who were 51 and 57 seconds behind the yellow jersey holder, respectively, sought to capitalize on every opportunity to launch a successful attack. However, the yellow jersey holder, TSARENKO Kyrylo, maintained his position despite his team's reduced support, thwarting all counterattacks. The stage ultimately ended in a bunch sprint, where GATE Aaron surprisingly launched an early sprint 800 meters from the finish, securing the stage win. RIKUNOV Petr finished second, and CHIA BERMUDEZ Luis Carlos took third, earning enough points to overtake MALUCELLI Matteo and claim the green jersey as the new sprint leader.

The top two teams in the general classification, SOLUTION TECH VINI FANTINI and LI NING STAR, maintained tight control throughout the stage, ensuring no changes in the top two positions.

In a post-race interview, stage winner GATE Aaron said, "Today's stage was very complicated. With 190 kilometers and many climbs, a lot can change, and groups were constantly forming and re-forming. We tried to keep our team members at the front and ensure we had options. When entering the final kilometers, we decided to go for the sprint. However, the situation remained unpredictable, with five riders breaking away. I managed to catch up and close the gap with another rider, then overtook the group in the final stretch, securing a small lead to the finish."

CHIA BERMUDEZ Luis Carlos, who secured the green jersey, expressed satisfaction with his performance and his team's season. He noted the pressure of representing a Chinese team but enjoyed race around the world. The Tour of Hainan is crucial for his team and sponsors, and he was delighted to compete in such a beautiful island with diverse terrain.

Tomorrow's final stage, sponsored by Samassi 3D-Printed Technology, will be a 182.8 km route from Dongfang to Ledong to Sanya. This stage, primarily along the scenic island highway, is expected to be controlled by the leading teams to ensure the yellow jersey holder's safe finish. Teams like XDS ASTANA TEAM, with strong sprinters, will push hard for a final sprint victory.