What Is 2014 Tour of Qinghai Lake

Overview

The 2014 Tour of Qinghai Lake was the 13th edition of one of Asia's highest and longest professional cycling stage races, held entirely in Qinghai Province, China. As a 2.HC category event on the UCI Asia Tour, it attracted top-tier continental and professional continental teams from around the world.

Spanning over 10 days, the race featured challenging high-altitude terrain, with much of the route exceeding 3,000 meters above sea level near Qinghai Lake. The combination of thin air, unpredictable weather, and mountainous climbs made it a demanding test of endurance for competitors.

• 13 stages were completed between July 7 and July 16, covering a total of 1,888 kilometers, making it one of the longest single-country stage races in Asia.
• The race began and ended in Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, with multiple circuits around the Qinghai Lake, the largest saltwater lake in China.
• Giovanni Visconti of the Nippo–Vini Fantini–De Rosa team claimed the yellow jersey as the overall winner of the general classification.
• The highest point of the race reached approximately 3,700 meters above sea level, contributing to extreme physical strain on riders.
• 22 teams participated, including squads from Italy, Russia, Kazakhstan, and China, with each team fielding up to 8 riders.

How It Works

The Tour of Qinghai Lake follows the traditional format of a multi-stage road cycling race, with daily stages contributing to cumulative time in the general classification. Points, mountains, and youth classifications are also awarded throughout the event.

• General Classification: Calculated by adding each rider’s stage times. The rider with the lowest cumulative time wears the yellow jersey.
• Points Classification: Awarded to sprinters; points are earned at stage finishes and intermediate sprints, with the leader wearing green.
• Mountains Classification: Points are given at the summit of categorized climbs, with the leader wearing a white jersey with red polka dots.
• Youth Classification: For riders under 23; the lowest time in this category earns the white jersey, separate from the mountains jersey.
• Team Classification: Based on the combined times of the top three riders per team each day, determining the fastest squad overall.
• Stage Wins: Individual stages are won by the first rider across the finish line, with no time bonuses always guaranteed in every stage.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2014 edition compares to prior years in key metrics:

The 2014 race was the longest in distance to date, yet the winning time was the fastest, indicating improved pacing and team strategies despite the altitude. Visconti’s victory marked the first win for an Italian rider since 2009, highlighting a shift in competitive dominance.

Why It Matters

The 2014 Tour of Qinghai Lake was significant not only as a sporting event but also as a platform for promoting cycling in Asia and showcasing China’s natural and cultural landscape to a global audience. It underscored the growing professionalism of Asian stage races on the international calendar.

• The race raised the profile of high-altitude cycling, serving as preparation for riders targeting Grand Tours with mountain stages.
• It provided valuable UCI ranking points for teams aiming to qualify for higher-tier events in Europe and Asia.
• Extensive live coverage and international broadcasting helped promote Qinghai Province as a tourist and ecological destination.
• Local economies along the route benefited from increased tourism and media exposure during the event.
• Chinese teams used the race to develop young talent, with three domestic squads participating in the 2014 edition.
• The event demonstrated China’s ability to organize complex, logistically demanding international sports competitions at high elevation.

With its mix of athletic challenge and scenic grandeur, the 2014 Tour of Qinghai Lake remains a landmark edition in the race’s history.