The “Baku-Khankendi” Azerbaijan Cycling Race, a category 2.1 event of the International Cycling Union (UCI), has concluded. On the fifth and final day of the race, participants covered a distance of 181.5 km along the Tartar-Aghdam-Fuzuli-Shusha-Khankendi route.
The grueling mountain stage was highlighted by a solo finish from Josh Burnett, a cyclist from Spain’s "Burgos Burpellet PH" Pro-Continental team, who outpaced everyone with a time of 4 hours, 16 minutes, and 35 seconds. Henok Mulubrhan, a member of Kazakhstan’s "XDS Astana" WorldTour team, secured the 2nd place, mirroring his performance in the 4th stage. The top three was rounded out by Eric Antonio Fagúndez, another cyclist from the "Burgos Burpellet PH" club
The final stage was also marked by a change in the general classification leader. Stage winner Josh Barnett claimed the blue jersey, presented by Silkway West Airlines and awarded to the overall leader of the “Baku-Khankendi” Azerbaijan Cycling Race. Henok Mulubrhan of "XDS Astana" took the 2nd place in the general classification, while Alexandre Balmer, representing Italy’s "Solution Tech NIPPO Rali" Pro-Continental club, finished 3rd.
With his performance in the final stage, Henok Mulubrhan also secured the green jersey, presented by “Sea Breeze” for the best sprinter. Lennert Teugels, a cyclist from Belgium’s "Tarteletto-Izorex" Continental club, retained the red mountain leader's jersey presented by Azerbaijan Airlines, while Iker Gómez of Spain’s "Equipo Kern Pharma" Pro-Continental team held onto the white jersey, presented by Azvirt for the best young cyclist.
The title of the best team of the tour went to the "Burgos Burpellet PH" Pro-Continental club. Fellow Pro-Continental teams "Bardiani CSF 7 Saber" (Italy) and "Equipo Kern Pharma" (Spain) finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The awards were presented to the standout cyclists by Farid Gayibov, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Elchin Yusubov, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the city of Khankendi and the Aghdara and Khojaly districts, Emin Huseynov, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavand districts, Zaur Akhundov, President of the Azerbaijan Cycling Federation, Fikrat Huseynov, Executive Vice-President of the Federation, and Lin Jin, First Vice-President of the "BST Logistics Company Limited".
The race, which commenced in Baku and concluded in the city of Khankendi, wrapped up with a concert program featuring prominent performing artists.
