There are some solid options that the Chinese UCI WorldTour is going to study, before the route of the next edition is designed.

The two-time winner Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) himself suggested to the organisers to add some climbs and notably a tough up-hill finish. In 2011 the German rouleur won through the individual time trial on the first day and he claimed victory in 2012 with his guts, going with the best climbers in the hilly stage two and attacking them in the final descent.

Martin, who is definitely a great ambassador for the race, put pressure on the organisers, expressing a lot of warm feelings before the start and saying that “the Tour of Beijing is one of the best organised races in the whole season.”

After the five day tour, Martin remained pleased, as you would expect given he retained his red leaders jersey for teh second year. “The race was as nice as last year; I really enjoyed it and plan to come again in 2013.”

The 2012 Tour of Beijing certainly provided a high level show, given the hilly course north to the Chinese capital and the event’s last position in the UCI WorldTour calendar, which offers the teams and riders a very last opportunity to take victories and UCI WorldTour points in order to stay within the world cycling’s first division in 2013.

Euskaltel-Euskadi, AG2R-La Mondiale and FDJ-BigMat had a competitive race in that purpose, but all the teams were motivated to wrap-up the season on a good note, including Team Sky which owns a huge amount of points however still tried hard to win the Tour of Beijing’s general classification with Edvald Boasson Hagen.

“The organization has been absolutely superb throughout, the course was more spectacular this year, and until the final stage, as with every other day, the riders really fought it out and it’s been a very good race with a very good winner,” UCI President Pat McQuaid said. “The riders do need a holiday now and get ready for next year and recharge the batteries, but they’ve been very impressive they way they’ve done their work.”

Numerous riders enjoyed the race’s conditions this year.

2008 road Olympic Champion Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) said: “The Tour of Beijing is certainly the safest cycling race in the world. There are a lot of people to grant our safety, the crossroads are very well protected. I don’t see how it could be better!”

Lithuania’s Ignas Konovalovas (Movistar Team) observed: “The evening before the race started we saw people cleaning the roads; this is really incredible to ride on such a course.”

The Chinese authorities successfully managed to deliver perfect safety whilst also generating crowds of fans alongside the route.

Best young rider Rafal Majka (Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank) pointed out that the “local people are extremely friendly and seem to enjoy cycling more and more.”

Pat McQuaid thinks the Tour of Beijing has reached its goal to promote cycling as a green way to travel in the City and a valuable sport in all the country. “We see more cyclists out on the road coming to the starts and finishes as well,” the UCI President said. “I think the Tour of Beijing itself is going to do a lot in the coming years to further develop the sport of cycling in China.”

The peloton was pleased to ride across green mountains in the north to Beijing, like the race’s best climber Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) who said: “Many people think Beijing is just a big city, but we obviously saw it’s more than that. It was great to explore the mountains and some fantastic scenery.”

Tom Jelte Slagter (Rabobank) noted the weather was interesting: “Every day we had a nice blue sky, which is good for us as riders as well as its good for telespectators which can enjoy the country.”

The Director of Global Cycling Promotion (GCP), Alain Rumpf, said he was envious of the riders who had the opprtounity to experience such amazing roads. “At this time of the year, nature and sun light provide a look to the Beijing area which completely matches the most iconic cycling places in the world.”

The start from Tien Anmen Square on Tuesday and the extraordinary finish at the foot of the Great Wall on Thursday will be an unforgettable experience to many.

Belgian talent Tim Wellens (Lotto-Belisol) explained “it was really worth it to come. Not only because I went 10th overall for my second year as a professional but also because it’s an interesting country to visit. Besides, my team went to see the Olympic Stadium before the race.”

FDJ-BigMat team went opposite the Bird’s Nest to see the Water Cube and Anthony Roux even swam in the training pool.

While most of the riders went to the Silk Market to buy some valuable souvenirs from their Beijing’s experience, Orica-GreenEdge attended the China Open tennis tournament before the race and RadioShack-Nissan planned to visit the Forbidden City after the last stage.

The Tour of Beijing had a special flavour for the Australian and New Zealand riders who were on their way home and picked up the Chinese race as an important stop. A few American’s also flew straight home from Beijing.

Moreover Alain Rumpf was happy to see the organisation’s improvements since last year.

“The local organisation committee did a fantastic job and showed every day a strong will to put on the best possible event,” said the GCP Director. Our organisation team has gained an important experience, and I would like to thank everyone, from Amaury Sport Organisation to our event consultant Expert Allan Rushton.”

A working meeting will happen about around the beginning of December to analyse the 2012 race and prepare the next one.

Alain Rumpf also said that “GCP is working with the UCI to make the Tour of Hangzhou happen in 2013, in the best conditions.”

“We will take note the comments from the riders, teams and media, and we are happy help the local organisation committee to keep improving that event,” he added.

Martin prevailed to win the overall title, despite a strong charge on the final day from Giro d’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) who made an attempt to claim both the stage and the overall win, only to be denied both, with Steven Cummings (BMC Racing Team) out-sprinted his escape companion to take the final stage win.

On the final podium Martin was 40 seconds ahead of Francesco Gavazzi (Astana) and 46 seconds in advance of Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky).

“I am super happy — over the moon,” the winner said. “It’s a really special win for me because I think there was a little bit of pressure on me but I think a lot of people were expecting for me to win again, but there was no time trial. I’m really proud of myself and of my team-mates which did a great job with week.”

In keeping with the fierce racing which has taken place since the start on Tuesday, the final stage was anything but an easy parade for the podium contenders over the undulating 182.5 kilometre route in the north of Beijing.

Four riders tried their luck straightaway following the start but the peloton didn’t let Rabobank’s Theo Bos and Marteen Wynants, Kenny De Haes (Lotto-Belisol) and Kenny Van Hummel (Vacansoleil-DCM) go clear.

At the first intermediate sprint, on kilometre 40.5, Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp), third in GC, saw his team-mate Heinrich Haussler dominate Boasson Hagen, ranked forth, but the Norwegian took three seconds of time bonus.

“It was pretty clear Boasson Hagen was going to be third place thanks to the time bonuses, so I focused on the polka-dot jersey’s retain,” Martin said.

The Irishman controlled Pim Ligthart (Vacansoleil-DCM) at the first two climbs in Hei Shan Zhai and Tuo Ling Tunnel.

A breakaway with twelve riders started after the feeding zone on kilometre 87.5. Katusha put two on board (Mikhail Ignatyev and Alexey Tsatevich), as well as Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank (Manuele Boaro, David Tanner). The other men in front were Jan Bakelants (RadioShack-Nissan), Grega Bole (Lampre-ISD), Steven Cummings (BMC Racing Team), Kenny Dehaes (Lotto Belisol), Enrique Sanz (Movistar), Jussi Veikkanen (FDJ-Big Mat), Frederik Veuchelen (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Maarten Wynants (Rabobank).

They gained up to 1’35″ on the peloton led by Omega Pharma-Quick Step.

Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) bridged up to the leading group in the penultimate climb, in Tai Hou Village, about kilometer 130.

At the top of the following hill of Si Zuo Lou, twenty kilometres later, Hesjedal accelerated and was followed by Cummings. Both men did a powerful and impressive descent while the riders formerly with them in front were caught by the peloton.

Hesjedal “was 100% focused on the general classification.” The 2012 Giro d’Italia winner explained: “I believed it was possible to win until we crossed the first line. We had very little information about the gap, and given we had 35 seconds at the top of the last climb and a few seconds of time bonus to take on the finish line, I thought I was going for final victory.”

The peloton didn’t chase flat out though, as the best young rider, Rafal Majka (Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank) noted: “When the gap went down to 15 seconds, a victory of the two riders in front wasn’t going to change anything for most of us in the general classification, and the teams were tired and not that strong after that long stage.”

No other team than Omega Pharma-Quick Step was leading the odd-40 bunch but Hesjedal and Cummings didn’t hesitate until the last sprint. The first one was still hoping to capture the general classification, the second one the stage victory.

The British rider was the fastest and took in Beijing one of the two most important successes in his career after the stage in the 2012 Vuelta a Espana.

“I am happy after such a long day,” Cummings said. “You have to try in the breakaway. It was a big breakaway, so it was difficult for the peloton to chase behind, so long as we kept the pressure on in front. When we were together, we did a good job together.”

Seventeen seconds after the breakaway, Boasson Hagen sprinted for third place ahead of Daniele Bennati (RadioShack-Nissan).

After final stage, Dan Martin captured the mountain classification, Boasson Hagen the points, Rafal Majka the best young, while Liquigas-Cannondale was best team.

“This is a nice prize for us, with a young team, on a UCI WorldTour race and also as a farewell gift for our sponsor Liquigas who ends its sponsorship with our team,” directeur sportif Stefano Zanatta said.

Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) pulled out in the beginning of the first climb, about kilometre 20. Luxemburg’s star is still recovering from a hip injury he sustained in June. The Tour of Beijing was nearly his come back to competition after Binche-Tournai-Binche.

“We are building up the 2013 season and Andy had a good training in China so far, so we decided it was more reasonable not to insist,” his directeur sportif Jose Azevedo said.

Also injured several times this season, in a training accident in April and then in the Tour de France, Martin positively wrapped-up in China. The overall victory in the Tour of Beijing is his seventh this year, including the team and individual time trials on the UCI World Championships.

Also a silver medal against the clock in the London Olympics, Martin, 27, was sceptical on his abilities to succeed in Beijing this year because of the withdrawal of the opening time trial.

The race was played on Wednesday, when Tony Martin surprised his escape companion in the final descent to Mentougou and took 56 seconds through a nearly 25 kilometre individual time trial.

Gavazzi, who went second that day, closed the gap in GC by ten seconds on Thursday as he notched up the queen stage at the foot of the Great Wall. Boasson Hagen had tried his chance just before and threatened Martin, but the German himself chased in front of the peloton, showing his solid “patron” status on the race. The Norwegian never found a breach to dislodge Martin, whether through the intermediate sprints or vicious attacks in the finales.

Boasson Hagen said he expected to win the race but has no regrets. “I did my best and I am pretty happy with my week in China.”

The Tour of Beijing provided an intense and spectacular show also because of the battle for the UCI WorldTour points that rages between Euskaltel-Euskadi, AG2R-La Mondiale and FDJ-BigMat. The Basques did impress on Wednesday’s hills with their climbers and leader Samuel Sanchez but burned out before they could take some substantial results. Both French teams preferred to send their riders into breakaways, while Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R-La Mondiale) went sixth overall.

He out-sprinted famed Italian fastmen Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) and Elia Viviani (Liquigas-Cannondale) after a 165.5 kilometre stage from Yanqing to Changping Stadium.

“I am unbelievably happy to win today, on an UCI WorldTour event,” Haller said. “I never expected to beat riders like Viviani, Petacchi or Boasson Hagen.”

In the last hundred meters Petacchi was passed by Haller, who explained: “I had a high speed and felt quite easy. I was thinking: ‘My God! It’s possible to win! It’s really possible!’ And I won!”

Just 21-years-old, Haller is a novice at UCI WorldTour level as he signed for Katusha Team last winter. He says he likes Classics even more than mass sprints. In the road race of the UCI World Championships he came third as a junior in 2009 and fifth as an under-23 last year.

Boasson Hagen was fighting for a top three placing in the sprint, which would have allocated him a time bonus and thus helped him to a spot on the podium of the general classification. Led by his Sky team-mate Luke Rowe in the final kilometre, the Norwegian crossed the line ninth, to leave him 4^th overall.

For his part Haller had support from Rüdiger Sellig and he then took Petacchi’s wheel with 300 meters to go.

The Italian veteran admitted that he launched his sprint too early. “It was too far but this is because I wanted to win so much! Hopefully I will do better tomorrow.”

Before taking part in the bunch sprint, Boasson Hagen expected to grab some seconds in the first intermediate sprint, on kilometre 24. However Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) who was just ahead of him in the general classification sent a team-mate Alex Howes up the road at about kilometre 17.

The breakaway took shape with Howes, Australia’s Mitch Docker (Orica-GreenEdge), Russia’s Timofeiy Ktitskiy (Katusha), France’s Jérémy Roy (FDJ-BigMat), and Alex Dowsett (Team Sky).

The gap went up to six minutes and thirty seconds but the men in front were facing two issues.

Firstly, Omega Pharma-Quick Step was receiving strong support from sprinters’ squads Liquigas, Lampre and RadioShack-Nissan at the front of the chasing peloton.

The men in front didn’t work together perfectly either with Dowsett, acting as a sentinel for Boasson Hagen, and thus unable to take strong turns.

“I put in a lot of work to get into this breakaway, this is why I felt like I was on the back foot most of the time,” explained Dowsett.

Instructed to go into the leading group not soon after it had gone, the British rouleur showed his sense of the sacrifice once again by stopping his effort while the peloton was coming back, in order to support Boasson Hagen.

France’s Roy thought Dowsett was sent in front in order to sabotage the group and favour a bunch sprint.

“If Dowsett had have given everything, we perhaps could have won,” Roy said.

The FDJ-Big Mat rider was obviously stronger than his escape companions on the category three climb after a 113 kilometre ride. His team manager Marc Madiot advised him to attack on the last hill but Roy anticipated by dropping his rivals on the descent just before, with about 35 kilometres to go to the finish.

“It was easier to manage my effort alone,” he explained. “Riding in the technical downhill, I was thinking I had a good chance to win, but then I struggled on the false flat sections while the peloton was wild behind me.”

With 15 remaining kilometres, Roy was 1’36″ ahead of the bunch and his escape companions had just been caught.

The Frenchman was riding through the tombs of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty, when the peloton absorbed him with five kilometres to go.

Improving as an individual time triallist, Roy will wrap up his season with the Chrono des Herbiers on October 21st, and his 30-kilometer solo attempt awarded him the most aggressive rider’s prize for the stage.

Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) had a difficult day and, as he is still recovering from a hip injury, he crossed the line 17’03″ down on Haller.

Stage five on Saturday brings the Tour of Beijing to a close, with a 182.5 kilometre undulating route from Changping Stadium to Pinggu. The main hill (5.4km at 5.9%) doesn’t seem strong enough to overturn the rankings but, contrary to last year’s conclusion, the riders won’t leave China after a criterium dedicated to pure sprinters.

The finish is potentially dangerous for Tony Martin: the top of the main climb is 28.5 kilometres away from the finish, the same distance as it was on Wednesday when he took control with a solo attack. The hill is twice as long as it was that day, however, and is made more difficult by a ramp positioned just before its foot, 3.1km long with a an average gradient of 6.7%.

Boasson Hagen, however, doesn’t think he can dislodge Martin.

“It’s not possible to win the general classification, the gap is too big,” he said.

The Norwegian strong man, ranked fourth in GC, stays 52 seconds down on Tony Martin, two seconds behind the third overall, Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) and a further 10 seconds behind second placed Francesco Gavazzi (Astana).

Asked if he is targeting the stage victory or a place on the final podium Saturday, Boasson Hagen said: “If possible, I will go for both.”

The final stage will be a great opportunity to say goodbye to the northern area of Beijing and its jewels like the Great Wall, the tombs of the Ming Dynasty and the green ecological barrier of the Pinggu District.

Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) retained the lead but he was put under strong pressure by Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) in the final kilometers.

This “queen stage,” 162.5 kilometres long from Mentougou to Badaling-Great Wall, provided a dramatic finish.

Boasson Hagen threatened Martin’s leader’s jersey by attacking with three kilometers to the finish and taking almost twenty seconds advantage.

The German rouleur responded by ensuring a powerful chase in front of the peloton.

“I knew it was going to be a difficult day and I’d lose some time,” Martin said. “I only lost ten seconds, which is a bonus. I feel I am in a stronger position to retain the leader’s jersey to the finish after today’s stage than I was yesterday. I had great support from my team since the numerous attacks from the start.”

Boasson Hagen, who reconnoitred the course before the race said: “I was full gas, thinking to try to gap off and get as much seconds as possible. If Martin hadn’t gained time yesterday, then maybe I could have waited for the sprint.”

Norway’s all-rounder was caught within sight of the line and battled the final few meters to finish third in the stage. He took six seconds in time bonuses and is now fourth on the general classification, 52 seconds behind Tony Martin.

Ireland’s Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) was first from the peloton to catch Boasson Hagen but he crossed the line second, passed by Gavazzi.

“When Boasson Hagen attacked I thought it was over because this style of finish perfectly suits him,” Gavazzi said. “I just stayed on the wheels: to wait was the single thing I could do. I felt I could win and I needed to break the ice.”

Second on stage two yesterday, Gavazzi narrowly missed victory three other times this year. A winner of a stage at 2011 Vuelta a Espana, the 28-year-old Italian secured second position on the general classification, with Tony Martin 40 seconds ahead of him.

The first part of the stage went off at high speed and no attempted attack succeeded before the top of the first climb, at kilometer 19, where Valentin Iglinskiy (Astana) out-sprinted king of the mountains leader Dan Martin.

Between the descent and the foot of the following climb, a group of seven riders broke away with Vacansoleil-DCM’s Johnny Hoogerland and Pim Ligthart, as well as George Bennett (RadioShack-Nissan), Andriy Grivko (Astana), Matthieu Ladagnous (FDJ-BigMat), Christian Meier (Orica-GreenEdge) and Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel-Euskadi).

The men in front took up to 4’35″ over the peloton led by Omega Pharma-Quick Step.

They seemed to work pretty well together, fighting at the top of the climbs (Ligthart scored two wins ahead of Meier) and the intermediate sprints (Ladagnous won the first one, like he did on stage one, while Ligthart was fastest in the second).

The category 1 ascent in Gao Ya Ku (10.8km at 6.4%) provided an epic, twenty-kilometer twisty downhill thrill, like some mythical hills of the Dolomites in Italy.

“The road was wide and beautiful but very technical. There were some curved corners like on a velodrome!” observed former track rider Ladagnous.

The breakaway’s advantage was 1’30 at twenty kilometers from the finish. “We should have had one minute 30 at the bottom of the last climb to be able to win,” Ladagnous told.

The seven riders were caught with ten kilometers to go.

Just before the junction, Meier went alone for three more kilometers. “At that point we can’t say I had saved energy but I saw an opportunity and took it,” said the Canadian.

When all the riders were together, 2012 Giro d’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) launched an attack but was controlled. French “baroudeur” Sylvain Georges (AG2R-La Mondiale) also tried a solo… and even fought a wind gust created by a truck driving on the parallel road.

Team Sky, however, was firmly leading the peloton to prepare Boasson’s Hagen brutal acceleration.

A member of yesterday’s leading group, Georges was happy to show himself. “The Tour of Beijing is important for our team to gain UCI WorldTour points and for me to be reassured after I had some family and health problems this year.”

Several riders, whether they were in breakaways or in the peloton, emphasised how difficult the Tour of Beijing is, notably because some teams like Euskaltel-Euskadi and AG2R-La Mondiale are chasing points.

Meier saw another reason behind that hard battle: “The race is pretty intense in the mountains because just a very few teams brought their climbers rather than their sprinters. Garmin-Sharp and Euskaltel-Euskadi did it, and they go flat out in the mountains.”

The riders were happy to finish at the foot of the Great Wall, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and the Badaling site is one of the most popular parts within among the 6,700 kilometres in total.

Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) went 132nd in the stage at 15’43″ to Gavazzi.

Luxemburg’s star had a minor crash before the start on the way from his hotel, as his front wheel touched a little stone on the road. Schleck cut his forearm while his team-mate Hayden Roulston was also involved in the crash and superficially injured his knee.

Chinese-based team Champion System Pro Cycling had a good day with three riders finishing in the main bunch. “When the field shredded the guys stayed in front as long as they could,” said directeur sportif Ed Beamon. “They showed they have improved a lot since the beginning of the year.”

Stage four on Thursday from Yanqing to the Changping Stadium, will go to the north of Beijing, over a 165.5 kilometer distance, through the Jundu Mountains and the tombs of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty.

The finale concentrates three category three climbs but with 2.3 kilometres and a smooth gradient on each and with a 31-kilometer downhill from the summit of the last one to the finish line, the match between the possible breakaways and sprinters’ teams will provide an intriguing show.

2012 Tour of Beijing – Remaining Stages:

Stage Four – Friday 12^th October
165.5km – Yan Qing Gui Chuan Square to Chang Ping Stadium
Start time: 12:40pm (local time)

Stage Five – Saturday 13^th October
182.5km – Chang Ping Stadium to Ping Gu Centenary Square
Start time: 12:10pm (local time)

The defending champion, who missed the time trial on the course this year and said his “chances to repeat his victory were tight”, was able to follow the best climbers on the three climbs that featured on the 126 kilometres from the Olympic Park to Mentougou District. He then surprised his rivals on the last downhill stretch to the finish and opened a gap in the last flat 20 kilometres.

Martin takes a significant 50 second lead in the general classification ahead of Italy’s Francesco Gavazzi (Astana) and 52 seconds on Eros Capecchi (Liquigas-Cannondale) who were second and third on the stage.

“If there is no time trial, you have to do your own one!” Martin smiled. “Some guys were expecting a sprint, but my team expected a hard race. The goal was to make a good race and to stay at the front, but I didn’t expect to win. I had a very, very small chance today but I took it and I am very happy and proud of this.”

Breakaways took the first intermediate sprints in the opening part of the stage. Andrey Grivko (Astana) out-sprinted China’s Kun Jiang (Champion System Pro Cycling) on kilometre 22, then Mathias Frank (BMC Racing Team) was first on kilometre 46 ahead of his four escape companions: Maxim Belkov (Katusha Team), Juan Garate (Rabobank), Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Movistar Team) and David Tanner (Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank).

The break went up to three minutes and fifteen seconds on the peloton but Euskaltel-Euskadi started a very high chase before the foot of the tough first climb in Gao Ya Kou, 10.8 kilometres long with an average gradient of 6.4%.

“Euskaltel-Euskadi raced very strong but they seemed to be focused more on Edvald Boasson Hagen“, explained Jan Bakelants (RadioShack-Nissan). “So they didn’t catch all the riders in front and left some others attacking.”

The hard first ascent, really worthy of being a medium mountain climb in the Tour de France, was hectic indeed, as several climbers launched an attack. Among them was Ireland’s Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) who was first to the top of both this hill and the following one and so captured the best climber’s jersey.

The front group also included Giro d’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp), Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and a few team-mates, AG2R-La Mondiale’s Sylvain Georges and Rinaldo Nocentini, Rui Costa (Movistar Team), Tom Jelte Slagter (Rabobank), and two riders from the earlier break, Tanner and Frank.

The race’s turning point happened in the last 5-kilometer ascent to Dong Fang Hong, when Slagter accelerated before the summit, followed by Tony Martin. Germany’s rouleur then attacked at the beginning of the twisty downhill, with 25 kilometres remaining to the finish.

Nocentini said the other riders lost time before chasing Martin: “A rider from Rabobank didn’t close the gap when Martin left. We didn’t react quickly enough and some riders didn’t help, saying they had no interest in general classification. That’s a pity: we could have done much better and even if we didn’t catch Martin, we could have taken more time on the groups behind us.”

With five kilometres to go Martin had an advantage of 30 seconds that he increased by ten seconds despite a strong headwind. He even had time to zip up his jersey before crossing the line and wave to the TV cameras.

Former GC leader Elia Viviani (Liquigas-Cannondale) lost 13’13″. “The first climb was very hard and I lost time, even if my team-mates did their best to support me,” said the Italian sprinter, who is still targeting another stage victory.

For his part Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) lost 15’41″.

Stage three on Thursday will finish at the bottom of the Great Wall and is ranked as this year’s queen stage. With 162.5km between Mentougou and Badaling, the course includes four hills. The main one will be the category 1 climb in Gao Ya Kou where the riders already passed over Tuesday, but the top is 94km from the finish.

The summit finish, a one-kilometre ascent with an average gradient of 6.3% will be more decisive. It suits puncheurs like Dan Martin or strong men like Boasson Hagen and thus Tony Martin.

The “Great Wall stage” will not only visit the most famous parts of that World Wonder but also explore the Yan Qing County, an ecological conservation zone which is to many the backyard garden of Beijing City.

“I think this stage suits me pretty well as I really feel good,” Martin says. “Today I could stay with the best riders even in the first climb which was 10 kilometres long and very hard. I think I can do pretty much the same tomorrow.”

Poland’s Rafal Majka, the leader of the best young rider classification and the Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank’s leader, also believes Martin can keep the lead after that queen stage.

“Riders like me will do our best to win but obviously Martin can hold on in the mountains after the show of strength he did today.”

“Tony’s overall victory would be great for us,” confided Omega Pharma-QuickStep team manager Patrick Lefévère.

“The Tour of Beijing is important for us as part of the UCI WorldTour and part of cycling globalization. I have always supported cycling’s development across the world whether it was by going to Canada in 1989 with the Domex-Weinmann team or to China in 1996 with Mapei.”

2012 Tour of Beijing – Remaining Stages:

Stage Three – Thursday 11^th October
162.5km – Green Sea Forest Park to Yan Qing Ba Da Ling Great Wall
Start time: 12:40pm (local time)

Stage Four – Friday 12^th October
165.5km – Yan Qing Gui Chuan Square to Chang Ping Stadium
Start time: 12:40pm (local time)

Stage Five – Saturday 13^th October
182.5km – Chang Ping Stadium to Ping Gu Centenary Square
Start time: 12:10pm (local time)

Viviani is already a worthy ambassador for the race as his photo is on thousands of banners all over Beijing City to advertise the event, where his victory in stage four last year was his best success at 22 years-old. Viviani shares headlines with Novak Djokovic around Beijing, with banners also promoting the China Open tennis.

Andy Fenn (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) finished second and third  respectively in a sprint made very close and fast by the tailwind and the smooth road passing between the Olympic Stadium – the “Bird’s Nest” – and the Water Cube.

The criterium-like show was flat within the 117-kilometer journey which started from Tian An Men Square and included twelve laps in the Olympic Park. The wind played an important role in the speed and tactics, blowing so strongly that it swept away the gantry on the finish line as soon as it was erected.

Viviani explained Liquigas-Cannondale’s tactic “was to ride near the front no matter what because on a circuit like this, you’d use up a lot less energy.”

“In the final, my teammates helped to get me into position. Then I took Boasson Hagen’s wheel in the last kilometre and I stayed cool on his wheel. I managed to go at the right time and shake him off well in the last 250 metres.”

“I needed to win today because I was not really happy with my latest results,” he said.

Viviani finished second on several occasions across both the Tour of Poland and Vuelta a Espana and his last victory was at the end of March at the Settimana Coppi e Bartali.

“I am happy about this,” Viviani smiled. “I now hope to win on another stage.”

Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan), despite the high speed was happy for his second race back from a long layoff with injury, finishing at 21 seconds to Viviani.

“My day was better than expected,” he said. “I had no pain and I could stay on the saddle for most of the time.”

In the first kilometres of the stage Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing Team) was one of many who unsuccessfully tried to break away.

A five-man group took the lead eight kilometers after the start: Marco Bandiera (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Matthieu Ladagnous (FDJ-BigMat), Bert-Jan Lindeman (Vacansoleil-CM), Craig Lewis (Champion System Pro Cycling) and Adriano Malori (Lampre-ISD).

Malori, who was award for his efforts with the most combative rider following the stage, said: “The wind was crazy and we couldn’t properly understand where it was coming from. So it was easy for the peloton to play with us.”

The breakaway’s gap went up to two minutes forty but the peloton kept the situation under control through Orica-GreenEdge’s strong tempo.

The American Lewis was the last rider to be caught, one and a half laps from the finish, doing justice to his Chinese-based team Champion System Pro Cycling’s call up to the tour. The Tour of Beijing is the first UCI WorldTour race for all but one of his teammates and his first one since the 2011 Giro d’Italia where he rode for HTC-Columbia.

Six seconds of time bonuses were picked up at the two intermediate sprints by France’s Ladagnous, which gives him 3rd place overall behind Viviani and Fenn in the general classification.

The stage’s start from Tian An Men Square was definitely the most emotional part of the day, as the largest square in the world (40 ha) was exclusively dedicated to the Tour of Beijing.

“It’s a privilege the square is just for ourselves,” said France’s Romain Bardet (AG2R-La Mondiale).

New Zealand’s Jesse Sergent (RadioShack-Nissan) added: “It’s a nice feeling to be in a place with a lot of history. We are lucky because the wind made the sky sunny.”

Stage two on Wednesday will lead the riders over 126 kilometres from the “Bird’s Nest” to Mentougou, in the western hills of Beijing.

The route suits the sprinters and strong “finisseurs” again, although a category one climb is positioned at halfway, 10.8 kilometres long with an average gradient of 6.4%. The two intermediate sprints, set in the first part of the stage, might inspire the escape artists.

On the eve of the event, the main contenders and organisers participated in a press conference in Beijing.

Quotes from each of the riders in attendance can be found below:

Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Germany.
2011 Tour of Beijing winner, defending champion.

“Last year was my first time in China and I really enjoyed this experience. The Tour of Beijing is one of the best organised races in the all season. The plan to come back this year was made in spring whatever I would win or not the time trial in the 2012 UCI Road World Championships. “

“As the Tour of Beijing doesn’t include a time trial anymore, my chances to repeat my victory are a bit tight. However, I will try again and keep fighting.”

Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan), Luxembourg.
2010 Tour de France winner.

“To many riders, the Tour of Beijing is the last race of the year, but to me this is a new beginning.”

“After I fractured my hip in June it has taken time to recover but my pain doesn’t bother me riding anymore. I am very happy to be back to the peloton, to my team, to a professional rider’s life, to put a number back on my jersey. “

“Sunday, it was good to ride around Beijing with fans, sponsors and guests, because we realised we will race the Tour of Beijing with people’s support. Cycling is now a globalised sport. We certainly don’t have so many opportunities yet to race outside Europe, although some of the races on other continents are much better organisation than in Europe! This is why I enjoy being back to China and Beijing after the 2008 Olympics.”

Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Spain.
2008 Olympic Champion in the men’s road race in Beijing.

“This is a very special feeling to be back to Beijing as my gold medal four years ago in the Olympic Games definitely changed my life. “

“Last year I enjoyed training and racing on the Olympics’ course and I had some good memories coming back. This is the same this year. The race is hillier, which is a good point for me. We have no sprinter in the team, so we must make the mountain stage as hard as possible and we are ready for that. The Tour of Beijing provides us great conditions. This is currently about 23-24°C, so it’s perfect to ride a bike.”

Xu Gang (Champion System Pro Cycling Team), People’s Republic of China.
2012 China’s National Champion.

“The Tour of Beijing is for my team and myself is a great opportunity to ride with world class athletes we see on television and in the newspapers.”

“To be honest, the race will be difficult as we haven’t experienced the UCI WorldTour level before. But I will do my best for sure. I hope to share with my team-mates my little experience of international races like the Tour of South China Sea [that he won in 2008, Ed.]. Given I am not fast enough in the sprints I would like to show myself in the mountains stage in the north of Beijing.”

Tian Junrong, Tour of Beijing Expert Consultant, representing the Local Organisation Committee.

“One of the biggest cities in the world, Beijing has got the energy and the will to stage an international event like the Tour of Beijing. We believe cycling is a great opportunity to show people from all over the world numerous sides of our City and region. This is why we applied for an UCI WorldTour race.

The preparation of 2012 edition started in November 2011. The Tour of Beijing officially involves more than 600 people a day, but we actually think there are many more, which shows a strong local support to that event.”

Alain Rumpf, Global Cycling Promotion Director.

“I am happy to see many riders involved in first edition last year come back to the Tour of Beijing and, after they have done a long season, I have a big respect for the commitment of the 18 UCI WorldTour teams and our guest Champion System Pro Cycling Team.”

“This year, the course is harder and the roster even better. This is the same in terms of organisation as the Local Organisation Committee is doing very impressive work.

“Among the reasons which led Beijing City’s authorities to start this race, there is the hope cycling increases as a green way to travel. Thus, the Tour of Beijing is a race to solve the issues many big cities in the world are facing with.”

2012 Tour of Beijing Stages:

Stage One – Tuesday 9^th October
117km – Tiananmen Square to Bird’s Nest Olympic Piazza
Start: 1:55pm (local time)

Stage Two – Wednesday 10^th October
126km – Bird’s Nest Piazza to Men Tou Gou Yong Ding River Cultural Square
Start time: 1:25pm (local time)

Stage Three – Thursday 11^th October
162.5km – Green Sea Forest Park to Yan Qing Ba Da Ling Great Wall
Start time: 12:40pm (local time)

Stage Four – Friday 12^th October
165.5km – Yan Qing Gui Chuan Square to Chang Ping Stadium
Start time: 12:40pm (local time)

Stage Five – Saturday 13^th October
182.5km – Chang Ping Stadium to Ping Gu Centenary Square
Start time: 12:10pm (local time)

Martin and Schleck will headline the second edition of the UCI WorldTour’s Chinese event, alongside Giro d’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp), 2011 Vuelta Espana champion Juan Jose Cobo and America’s rising star Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing Team).

The pair arrived in Beijing on Friday to adapt themselves to the jetlag and explore the roads with local cyclists, while some others have taken time to also enjoy the nearby China Open tennis tournament.

None of those named above have expectations of capturing the overall general classification, which will make the race particularly open.

“It will be really hard to defend my title because there is no time trial,” said Martin, who won the against the clock event for the second time at the UCI World Championships at the end of September.

Schleck, who fractured his hip at the Critérium du Dauphiné in June, is still recovering from this injury. He restarted competition in Belgium just before flying to Beijing, at Tournai-Binche-Tournai, where he pulled-out after 130 kilometres.

“The Tour of Beijing is a kind of come back for me while most of the riders are here to finish their season,” he said.

“I am happy to be here but I have no special ambition. I just hope to survive.”

This morning Schleck took part in a fans’ bike ride around Men Tou Gou, north of Beijing, and happily signed autographs. This 70-kilometer ride was a perfect opportunity for dozens of China’s Sunday warriors to meet world class professional riders, ride with them and sometimes even get a kind and discreet hand from them in the most difficult ascents.

“This fan ride shows that locals’ interest for the Tour of Beijing is rising,” Global Cycling Promotion Director Alain Rumpf said.

“More generally I am happy to see everything has improved within the local organisation committee since the first edition last year, and the riders who took part last year are happy to be back.”

The race will start Tuesday, with the first stage a journey from the iconic Tian An Men Square, considered as China’s heart, to the foot of the Bird’s Nest, the 2008 Olympic Stadium.

The course grants a fierce battle because of the individual time-trial’s withdrawal and the addition of some hills in the north of Beijing. New this year, the time bonuses will provide a fantastic fight between the sprinters and escape artists, like the guest team Champion System. Two intermediate sprints will indeed offer three, two and one seconds to the first three riders crossing the line, while the finish gives ten, six and four second bonuses, which may well decide the overall Tour winner.

Italian sprinters like Daniele Bennati (RadioShack-Nissan) and Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) hope to take a stage victory throughout the five days, as well as fast men from Orica-GreenEDGE and Argentinean Juan Jose Haedo (SaxoBank-Tinkoff Bank).

Some of the best puncheurs in the world will be a good show on Thursday, in the stage three race to the Badaling-Great Wall. Among them the 2008 Olympic road race champion Spain’s Samuel Sanchez and Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi).

Young all-rounders including Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky), the 2012 world road race silver medallist, and Italian neo-professional Moreno Moser (Liquigas-Cannondale), the Tour of Poland winner, also have the talent and the burst of speed to claim final victory in the 2012 Tour of Beijing.

The 2012 Tour of Beijing kicks off on Tuesday and runs from the 9^th to the 13^th of October as the last event on the UCI WorldTour calendar. Starting from the historic Tiananmen Square the five-day Tour will also feature some of China’s top tourist attractions including the Bird’s Nest Stadium and the Great Wall.

2012 Tour of Beijing Stages:

Stage One – Tuesday 9^th Octobe
117km – Tiananmen Square to Bird’s Nest Olympic Piazza

Stage Two – Wednesday 10^th October
126km – Bird’s Nest Piazza to Men Tou Gou Yong Ding River Cultural Square

Stage Three – Thursday 11^th October
162.5km – Green Sea Forest Park to Yan Qing Ba Da Ling Great Wall

Stage Four – Friday 12^th October
165.5km – Yan Qing Gui Chuan Square to Chang Ping Stadium

Stage Five – Saturday 13^th October
182.5km – Chang Ping Stadium to Ping Gu Centenary Square

Hesjedal created history as the first Canadian to win a Grand Tour when he took out the Giro earlier this year.  And to sweeten the achievement, he also became just the second man in history to win the prestigious Grand Tour on the final day of racing.

Despite a year that started with the first WorldTour event in Australia, Hesjedal still feels he has something left in the legs for the five day race around the Chinese capital. That and his passion for racing at the highest level have brought him to Beijing.

“It’s WorldTour racing,” Hesjedal said from the team hotel in Beijing.

“If I made it through the Tour (de France) and had my normal schedule I probably would have stopped after Montreal like the last couple of years but I left the Tour after only getting a week in and only having the Olympics left me a little short of race days through August.”

The past month has made up for that with the world championships, Quebec and Montreal plus Piemonte and Lombardia so Hejsedal is carrying that into Beijing.

“I started the season at Down Under and it’s almost been like two seasons in a way.”

With no time trial and a more mountainous route, the Canadian hopes the course will suit him and the team.

“Some of the riders that are here, that shows they are hoping that there is some selection in the GC on some days and that will shape the race for the overall,” he said.

“We have Dan Martin and myself who can be there on the hilly selective days so we’ll see if we can be part of that.

“On the days for the sprinters we’ll be looking to set up Heinrich, so I definitely think the team is suited to whatever the race has for us.”

Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda’s roster includes Thomas Dekker, Vuelta a Espana stage winner Dan Martin, 2009 top-ten Tour de France finisher Christophe Lemevel, young American Alex Howes and Australian Heinrich Haussler, a Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana stage winner, who will return to China hoping to replicate his stage win at the inaugural Tour of Beijing last year.

Rounding out the squad are 2011 Paris-Roubaix champion Johan Vansummeren and German national road champion Fabian Wegmann.

The 2012 Tour of Beijing kicks off on Tuesday and runs from the 9^th to the 13^th of October as the last event on the UCI WorldTour calendar. Starting from the historic Tiananmen Square the five-day Tour will also feature some of China’s top tourist attractions including the Bird’s Nest Stadium and the Great Wall.

Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda Team – 2012 Tour of Beijing

Thomas DEKKER (NED, 28): A two-time national time trial champion (2004 & 2005) and winner of the 2006 Tirreno–Adriatico and 2007 Tour of Romandie. Has had a reasonably quiet 2012 in his first year with Garmin-Sharp.

Heinrich HAUSSLER (AUS, 28): Stage winner at last year’s Tour of Beijing. Won the points classification at this year’s Paris-Nice to go with his stage victories in the 2009 Tour de France and 2005 Vuelta a Espana. Was a German junior national time-trial champion, but was born in Australia and has since ridden for Australia in senior world championships. Best result in 2012 was a 3rd at the GP Ouest France.

Ryder HESJEDAL (CAN, 31): Became the first ever Canadian Grand Tour winner when he won the Giro d’Italia in the final stage time trial earlier this year. Finish 2nd in the Amstel Gold Race and 3rd at the GP Montreal in 2010. Was nominated as the team’s designated leader for the 2012 Tour de France but was forced to withdraw due to injuries from a crash on stage six.

Alex HOWES (USA, 24): A talented young rider, Howes’ career highlights to date include winning the USA under-23 national championships road race and criterium in 2009, placing fourth overall in the 2011 Tour de Beauce and being part of a team time trial victory in stage two of the Tour of Utah.

Daniel MARTIN (IRL, 26): Having ridden professionally since 2007, Martin has enjoyed success in some of the tour’s biggest races.  In 2011 he won stage 9 of the Vuelta a Espana and finished 8th in the Tour de France time trial.  He has also won the Tour de Pologne in 2010 and was the Irish road race champion in 2008.

Christophe LEMEVEL (FRA, 32): Will be the final race for Lemevel for Garmin-Sharp who will join Cofidis in 2013. Career highlights include a stage win at the Giro d’Italia in 2005 and a top ten finish at the Tour de France in 2009.

Johan  VANSUMMEREN (BEL, 31): Winner of the 2011 Paris-Roubaix, 2007 Tour of Pologne and 2006 sprint classification at the Tour of Britain.

Fabian WEGMANN (GER, 32): Germany’s current national road race champion who also won the national title in 2007. Also has number of top ten finishes including eighth at the Amstel Gold Race. Just signed for a further two years with Garmin.

2012 Tour of Beijing Stages:

Stage One – Tuesday 9^th October
117km – Tiananmen Square to Bird’s Nest Olympic Piazza

Stage Two – Wednesday 10^th October
126km – Bird’s Nest Piazza to Men Tou Gou Yong Ding River Cultural Square

Stage Three – Thursday 11^th October
162.5km – Green Sea Forest Park to Yan Qing Ba Da Ling Great Wall

Stage Four – Friday 12^th October
165.5km – Yan Qing Gui Chuan Square to Chang Ping Stadium

Stage Five – Saturday 13^th October
182.5km – Chang Ping Stadium to Ping Gu Centenary Square

The Lotto Belisol super domestique raced the Tour Down Under – the opening WorldTour event of the year – and his journey to Beijing has taken him via the Grand Tours of Italy, France and Spain, as well as the world championships in the Netherlands.

In riding all three Grand Tour’s in the same year he became just the second Australian and only 32^nd rider in history to achieve the feat. Clearly, Hansen loves to race.

The Australian will be joined in Beijing by New Zealand sprinter Greg Henderson and young climbing talent Tim Wellens who shape as the main cards Lotto – Belisol has to play in China.

Sports director Michiel Elijzen said at the end of a long year it’s also a long trip to China, but one that is worthwhile given the overall importance to global cycling.

“For the teams, it is at the end of the year and a serious logistical task for the trip to China but in the context of the globalization of cycling, I understand that such a country is important. Currently it is fairly good weather conditions in China, so the price will be quite ok,” Elijzen said.

“The route seems harder than last year. There is no trial and only the first stage will probably end in a bunch sprint.”

“Greg Henderson is one of the fast men on the participants list, so hopefully he can play a significant role.”

In subsequent stages the focus is on climbing. Our youngster and neo pro Tim Wellens has spent the last months in his best form. Tim is a good climber and gives us the opportunity to see how far he can get. He is highly motivated and showed in Lombardy much character.”

“Adam Hansen is a man who in every field can play a role, but it depends, of course, on how many race days he has consumed.”

Wellens said he welcomed the opportunity to further his development in Beijing.

“It’s nice to get your development opportunities to benefit. It’s the last round of the season, but I have not raced much, so I’m still very excited. The course should suit me, I like to climb, but it remains to be seen how much I can stand in a WorldTour stage race. This is the ideal opportunity to see what the relationship is between my level and that of more experienced riders. For me it is very difficult to predict what is possible, but it is a dream to be in a WorldTour race.”

The 2012 Tour of Beijing kicks off on Tuesday and runs from the 9^th to the 13^th of October as the last event on the UCI WorldTour calendar. Starting from the historic Tiananmen Square the five-day Tour will also feature some of China’s top tourist attractions including the Bird’s Nest Stadium and the Great Wall.

Lotto Belisol Team – 2012 Tour of Beijing

Kenny DEHAES (BEL, 27): Riding professionally since 2006, Dehaes has won stage one of the Tour of Belgium in 2008 and also stage one of the Four Days of Dunkirk.  Other career highlights include winning the points classification for the Tour de Picardie in 2011 and winning the Schaal Sels race in 2007.

Gert DOCKX (BEL, 24): Dockx is a 24 year old Belgian who has been riding professionally since 2009.  In 2012 he has ridden as a support rider in the Criterium du Dauphine, the Tour of Romandie and the Eneco Tour among other events.

Adam HANSEN (AUS, 31): Hansen is a domestique rider who often sacrifices his own performances for the good of the team. In 2012 he achieved a grand tour treble, riding in the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana; a feat accomplished by only 32 riders in the history of cycling.  His career highlights also include winning the Australian National Time Trial Championships in 2008 and finishing first overall in the Ster Elektrotoer race in 2010.

Greg HENDERSON (NZL, 35): Henderson is a New Zealand track cycling champion who since 2006 has been plying his trade on the road. His career highlights include winning the points classification on the Tour of Georgia in 2005 and 2008, and winning stage three of the Vuelta a Espana in 2009.  In 2012 Henderson won stage one of the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic and rode in the Tour de France.

Maartin NEYENS (BEL, 29): Riding professionally since 2008, Neyens’ career highlights include finishing second in the Beverbeek Classic and the Profronde van Fryslan races in 2009.  In 2012 he has ridden in the Paris-Nice, Tour of Romandie and Eneco Tour races among others.

Mehdi SOHRABI (IRN, 30): Sohrabi is a multiple Iranian national champion and has been riding professionally since 2005.  He won the Asian cycling championships road race in 2010 and in his first year in Europe has ridden in events such as the 2012 Tour de Suisse and the Tour of Cataluña.

Joost VAN LEIJEN (NED, 28): In 2012 Joost van Leijen rode in the Vuelta a Espana.  His career highlights include winning the Musterland Giro in 2010, finishing second overall in the Tour de Wallonie in 2011 and finishing sixth overall in the 2006 Eneco Tour.

Tim WELLENS (GBR, 24): In his first year as a professional rider, Wellens already has three race wins.  He was victorious in the Brustem-St-Truiden, Polleur and Testrit Gingelom-Borlo races.

2012 Tour of Beijing Stages:

Stage One – Tuesday 9^th October
117km – Tiananmen Square to Bird’s Nest Olympic Piazza

Stage Two – Wednesday 10^th October
126km – Bird’s Nest Piazza to Men Tou Gou Yong Ding River Cultural Square

Stage Three – Thursday 11^th October
162.5km – Green Sea Forest Park to Yan Qing Ba Da Ling Great Wall

Stage Four – Friday 12^th October
165.5km – Yan Qing Gui Chuan Square to Chang Ping Stadium

Stage Five – Saturday 13^th October
182.5km – Chang Ping Stadium to Ping Gu Centenary Square