Cox Ryan of South Africa won Thursday's sixth stage of the Tour of Qinghai Lake cycling, while yellow jersey holder Czech Mares Martin finished safely in the main pack to keep the overall lead in a comfortable climate.

Barloworld-Valsir rider Ryan and fifth stage winner Mizbani Ghader of Iran had a complete control in the 112-kilometer mountain leg from Guide county to Xining city in the same 2 hours 51 minutes 21 seconds, ahead of the second group by a large margin with Ghader's Giant Asia teammate Iranian David Mccann in the third place 1 minute 27 seconds behind.

Martin and Baigudinov Kairat finished the stage with same time as second group leader Mccann to retain the one-two in overall standings, while Italian Simeoni Filippo from Naturino-Sapore Di Mare was up one place to rank the overall third 4 minutes 34 seconds trailing Martin.

Mares Martin, the four-stage yellow jersey taker, owed his lead to team work and thanked his teammates after the awarding ceremony.

Kairat and his Kazakhstan teammate Bazayev Assan routinely got the Asian best blue jersey and sprint green jersey.

The seventh stage will cover 112 kilometers with three mountainpasses from Xining city to Xunhua county.

Source: Xinhua