Baku–Khankendi Azerbaijan Cycling Race Stage 1: Schnyrko Sprints to Victory as Li Ning Star Team Claims Opening Win
- Charles Lee
- May 11
- 3 min read
On May 10, 2026, the Baku–Khankendi Azerbaijan Cycling Race officially got underway. The opening stage started from Sea Breeze Baku on the Caspian Sea and finished in Sumgayit, Azerbaijan’s second-largest city, covering a total distance of 159.3 kilometres. In the end, Belarusian rider Aliaksei Schnyrko of the Li Ning Star Continental Team triumphed in a bunch sprint, narrowly beating Gleb Syritsa (XDS Astana Team) into second place, while Belgian sprinter Timothy Dupont finished third.
With the victory, Schnyrko also took the overall lead, donning the blue jersey presented by Silkway West Airlines, as well as the green points jersey sponsored by Sea Breeze. Yorben Lauryssen claimed the red mountains jersey (Azerbaijan Airlines), while the white jersey for best young rider (Azvirt) went to Italy’s Filippo Cettolini.
Stage 1 was largely a flat stage of 159.3 kilometres, featuring two intermediate sprint points at kilometre 44.6 and 92.3, as well as a Category 3 climb at kilometre 118.9. The race started at 9:20 a.m. local time, followed by a 2.2-kilometre neutralised section before racing officially began. A total of 139 riders from 42 nations, representing 24 teams, took part in the stage.
In the early part of the race, the peloton maintained a relatively moderate pace. Around kilometre 20, a four-man breakaway went clear and gradually established a lead of around 2 minutes and 30 seconds. At the first intermediate sprint (km 44.6), Belgium’s Yorben Lauryssen took maximum points, ahead of Poland’s Ksawier Garnek and Spain’s Eduardo Pérez-Landaluce.
As the race progressed, the second intermediate sprint at kilometre 92.3 was also contested by the breakaway riders, with Garnek this time proving strongest, followed by Lauryssen and Pérez-Landaluce. Meanwhile, the peloton began to increase the pace, with the Li Ning Star Continental Team and XDS Astana Team taking control of the chase and reducing the gap to around 1 minute and 30 seconds.
At the Category 3 climb (km 118.9), Lauryssen once again took top honours. Shortly after, Pérez-Landaluce launched an attack, with only Lauryssen able to follow. The duo extended their advantage to as much as 1 minute and 15 seconds, but sustained pressure from the peloton eventually brought all breakaway riders back before the finish in Sumgayit.
In the final kilometres, a crash occurred within a group of eight riders near the front, adding further tension ahead of the sprint finish. Ultimately, the stage was decided in a bunch sprint.
In the final sprint, Schnyrko delivered a strong performance, emerging from intense competition to narrowly defeat Syritsa and Dupont to take the stage victory. It marked the first stage win of the race and a perfect start for the Li Ning Star Continental Team.
Speaking after the finish, Schnyrko expressed his excitement and highlighted the team effort:
“Today the team delivered a great performance and we are all very happy. In the final sprint, my teammates helped me a lot in the last kilometre. Then I followed the Astana rider. With 200 metres to go I was in third position, and with 180 metres remaining I launched my sprint and managed to win.” He also praised his team highly: “This is a perfect team — the best team.”
The Li Ning Star Continental Team is the only China-registered team participating in this year’s race, making this victory particularly significant.
On May 11, the race continues with Stage 2, a 193.3-kilometre route from Baku to Ismayilli. Compared to the opening flat stage, the second stage features a much more demanding profile, including three climbs and two intermediate sprints, and is expected to play a key role in shaping the general classification.
Result of Stage1:
Highlight of Stage1:
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