Bardiani-CSF 7 Saber opened the China Xizang Trans-Himalaya with two Top 10 finishes in the first stage, which ended at Basomtso Lake, at an altitude of 3,511 metres.

Luca Colnaghi took fifth place, finishing 45 seconds behind the winner, while Filippo Magli crossed the line in tenth position with the same time gap.

The result also puts both riders inside the Top 10 of the general classification: Magli is sixth at 56 seconds, while Colnaghi sits eighth at 57 seconds.