Hamilton was second and Sevilla finished fifth on Stage 6 as Sevilla climbed to third overall and Hamilton to fourth. Sevilla is 14 seconds off the lead and Hamilton only one second behind him. Four stages remain in the 10-day, 841-mile (1,354 km) race.
Rock Racing nearly scored its first stage win in China when Hamilton attacked inside the final mile. The former Tour de France stage winner and Olympic time trial gold medalist was shadowed by race leader Hossein Askari (Tabriz Petrochemical Team) but it was Marek Rutkiewicz (Polish National Team) who passed the pair just before the finish.
“The last kilometer, it seemed to take forever,” Hamilton said.
On a day when blue skies and sun greeted the riders for the first time in days, the 71-mile (115 km) race climbed to a summit more than 12,500 feet above sea level – believed to be the highest point raced in any UCI-rated competition this season. But with the finish 34 miles away – all downhill – it was not decisive.
Hamilton and Iranian climbers Ghader Mizbani and Ahad Kazemi (Tabriz Petrochemical Team) separated themselves from the shattered peloton as it passed over the highest category climb. But the trio was eventually joined by Sevilla, Rutkiewicz and Rys Pollock (Marco Polo Team presented by Trek) on the long descent.
Although disappointed that he did not get the stage win, Hamilton said he is concentrating his efforts on supporting Sevilla.
“I don’t have my greatest climbing legs yet,” he said. “Had we stayed away, I could have taken the (yellow) jersey, but I think we have a better chance of winning the race with Oscar.”
Thursday’s seventh stage is a 133-mile (214 km) race from Xining to Minhe and back. The first 60 miles are downhill, while the final 60 miles (96 km) are all uphill.
Photos: Copyright Tour of Qinghai Lake/Mark Gunter (www.pbase.com/gunterphotograph)
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