Qionghai City, Hainan Province, south China - April 7, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Referees firing guns, cyclists setting off for stage one of 16th Tour of Hainan International Road Cycling Race
2. Various of cycling race in progress
3. Various of cyclists crossing finish line, stage one winner cheering 
4. Various of awarding ceremony in progress; top three cyclists of stage one being awarded
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Malucelli Matteo, winner of stage one race, XDS Astana Team:
"The team did a really strong work during the day. And I take the first victory of the year and the first victory here in the island of Hainan. So I am really happy and I enjoy the moment."
6. Aerial shots of cycling race in progress
7. Various of cycling race in progress
8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese, dubbed in English ) Su Haoyu, cyclist, XDS Astana Team (partially overlaid with shot 9):
"The Tour of Hainan is a UCI 2.pro-level race. We have some very high-level riders participating in the competitions. The route includes flat, climbing, and downhill sections. I think it's very exciting and intense. It's a great way to promote cycling culture in Hainan."
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9. Aerial shot of cycling race in progress
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10. Various of cycling race in progress
11. Aerial shots of cycling race in progress

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The 16th Tour of Hainan International Road Cycling Race kicked off in Qionghai City in South China's Hainan Province on Monday, with more than 140 athletes from 20 international teams completed the stage one on the same day. 

The race runs from Monday to Friday, and has a total of five stages, spanning over 854 kilometers. 

The starting and ending points are set in Qionghai and Sanya City, passsing through various cities and counties and iconic areas such as the round-the-island tourist highway and the ring road surrounding the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park.

With a total length of over 90 kilometers, the first stage is the shortest flat stage of the race, which includes an intermediate sprint point and a category four climbing point. 

After intense competition, Malucelli Matteo from the XDS Astana Team claimed victory, while Norman Vahtra from the China Glory - Mentech Continental Cycling Team and Alexander Salby from LiNing Star secured the second and third places, respectively.

"The team did a really strong work during the day. And I take the first victory of the year and the first victory here in the island of Hainan. So I am really happy and I enjoy the moment," said Matteo. 

Founded in 2006, the race has grown to become one of the highest-level and most influential road cycling races in Asia.

"The Tour of Hainan is a UCI 2.pro-level race. We have some very high-level riders participating in the competitions. The route includes flat, climbing, and downhill sections. I think it's very exciting and intense. It's a great way to promote cycling culture in Hainan," said Su Haoyu from the XDS Astana Team.