We're back in Xining tonight and Tyler managed to hold on to his lead on today's final mountain day. That means we have only a 110km flat circuit race remaining tomorrow before this thing's over. Tyler's lead over second place is only ten seconds and there are time bonuses available midway through the race, as well as at the finish, so the lead certainly isn't sealed up. We're hoping that the sprinters will be fighting amongst themselves and we won't have to worry too much about the Polish climber, Rutkiewicz, gaining time. But nothing's being taken for granted.

Otherwise, there's not much to report. A couple of the teams got to their hotels last night and found that they had neither hot water nor electricity, so they ended up driving back here to Xining to spend the night. The race started two hours late to give them time to drive back to Menyuan in the morning. Sleeping in was a welcome change, but after 170 kilometers of racing, plus the hour and a half transfer back to Xining, there wasn't much day left. So that's all for tonight. Win or lose, I'll get something posted tomorrow.