In a grueling and tactically charged Stage 4 of the Tour of Hainan (Lingshui › Baoting, 132.7 km), MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort delivered a masterclass in cohesive racing. The day culminated in a stellar performance by Alessandro Fancellu, who clinched a hard-fought third place, propelling himself to fifth in the General Classification (GC) and further solidifying his trajectory in the 2026 season.
The stage victory was claimed by Guillermo Thomas Silva (XDS Astana Team), who outsprinted Thomas Pesenti (Team Polti VisitMalta) in a high-octane finish in Baoting, with Fancellu rounding out the podium.
Race Dynamics: Aggression and the Decisive Qixianling Ascent
From the drop of the flag, the MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort squad adopted an aggressive stance, dictated by their strategic intent to disrupt the peloton. Samuele Zoccarato was instrumental in the early phases, launching a powerful, long-range breakaway that forced rival teams into a high-speed chase and set a punishing tempo for the day.
The race reached its boiling point on the final, decisive climb to Qixianling. Fancellu, identifying the critical moment, launched a series of probing attacks that systematically thinned the lead group. His relentless pace eventually forged an elite selection featuring Berasategi, Crozzolo, Pesenti, and Silva.
In the closing kilometers, Silva’s explosive finishing speed proved insurmountable, as he surged ahead to secure his second stage win of the edition and reclaim the yellow jersey. Despite having spent significant energy on the ascent, Fancellu displayed immense grit to hold onto third, gaining crucial seconds in the hunt for the GC title.
Fancellu’s Post-Race Reflections
Reflecting on the team’s performance and his podium finish, Fancellu remarked:
“We executed our plan to perfection, racing with the aggression we had discussed in the morning briefing. Our goal was to set a high tempo early on, force gaps in the GC, and create opportunities far from the finish line.In the final sprint, I gave every last watt. While I narrowly missed out on second, the energy I invested earlier in the stage was necessary to make the selection. We’ve moved up to fifth overall, which was our target. Breaking into the final podium will be a challenge without time bonuses, as I’m not a pure sprinter, but this result is a massive morale booster. Staying united as a team is our greatest strength right now.”
