Savva Novikov wins speed race in Da Lat city

Savva Novikov celebrates winning the speed race in Da Lat City - Photo: HUY VU

In stage 18 of the Ho Chi Minh City Television Cup - Ton Dong A 2025, the racers ran 10 laps around Xuan Huong Lake (Da Lat City) for 51km. The speed of this race was pushed very high after the start, creating excitement for the audience.

After 3 laps, Tran Tuan Kiet (Dopagan Dong Thap) was the outstanding sprinter to surpass Nguyen Van Binh (HCMC - New Group) to win sprint 1. But the most dramatic thing was what happened after this speed competition.

A group of 8 strong riders, including yellow jersey Mikhail Fokin (Loc Troi Group An Giang), red polka dot jersey Savva Novikov (Binh Minh Plastic Binh Duong), Samuel Jenner (620 Chau Thoi Vinh Long), Loic Desriac (Domesco Pharmaceutical Dong Thap), Ethan Batt (Le Fruit Maxxis Dong Nai)... escaped.

Experts were surprised when Johnny Hoogerland (HCMC - Vinama), currently ranked 3rd in the overall standings, was not in this group. He was also the only one of the 6 foreign riders leading the overall standings to fall behind.

With this situation, group 1 pushed the speed very high when Samuel Jenner, Loic Desriac and Ethan Batt all wanted to take over the overall ranking of this 3-time Tour de France rider.

Therefore, despite the efforts of the Ho Chi Minh City cycling team and Johnny Hoogerland to chase, the leading group gradually increased the gap, sometimes up to about 1 minute.

And so the race ended with two groups chasing each other. At the finish line, Russian Savva Novikov sprinted past Ethan Batt to win the stage and the 20 million VND prize in 57 minutes and 52 seconds. Johnny Hoogerland finished in the second group, 50 seconds later.

With this result, the Dutch cyclist was surpassed by Samuel Jenner and Loic Desriac on the overall ranking and dropped to 5th place. Mikhail Fokin still wore the yellow jersey after 18 stages with a time of 47 hours 12 minutes 5 seconds, 39.33 seconds more than the second person - red polka dot jersey Savva Novikov.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Hoang Sang (Le Fruit Maxxis Dong Nai) continues to wear the orange jersey. The green jersey is firmly in the hands of Nicholas Kergozou (620 Vinh Long Agriculture). Meanwhile, Pham Le Xuan Loc (Military Zone 7) seems to have no rival in the race for the white jersey.

On April 23, the racers will take a day off in Phan Thiet City to recover after the intense races.

Read more Back to Topics

PHUC AN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/savva-novikov-chien-thang-vong-dua-toc-do-tai-tp-da-lat-2025042210530365.htm