The cyclist tried to get ahead of the pack from the beginning of the day’s 123-kilometer course, stretching from northern Quang Ninh Province to Hai Phong City.

There were a handful of attacks throughout the stage, making it a tug of war at high speed, which surpassed 50 kilometers per hour at times.

But the pack stayed together near the finish.

Ultimately, the stage was destined to end in a bunch sprint.

With class and strong footwork, Roman Maikin of Tap Doan Loc Troi powered past to take victory after two hours, 43 minutes and 43 seconds, followed by Tran Tuan Kiet of Dopagan Dong Thap.

The performance awarded the Russian the blue jersey of the leg while the most prestigious yellow jersey of the tourney is still held by Igor Frolov of Ho Chi Minh City-Vinama.

The cyclists are scheduled to race 52.2 kilometers around Cat Ba District in Hai Phong City in the fourth stage of the tournament on Friday.

The HTV Cup race has been held annually since 1989 and is considered Vietnam’s ‘Tour de France.’

In its 34th edition, the competition takes 98 cyclists from 14 competing teams through 2,316.2 kilometers in 23 stages from north to south in celebration of Vietnam’s reunification on April 30, 1975.

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