Veteran Trinh Duc Tam wins stage at trans-Vietnam cycling race

Thirty-four-year-old rider Trinh Duc Tam had an aggressive day of competition to win stage 18 of the trans-Vietnam cycling race for HTV Television Cup 2026.

This morning's stage, covering 166 km from Phan Thiet to Vung Tau, saw intense competition. While the two teams, TP HCM - Vinama and New Group, formed a leading pack to control the pace, other teams deployed their strongest riders to contend for top positions. Notably, the Public Security of TP HCM team was particularly proactive, launching continuous attacks in an attempt to seize the team classification lead from Vinama.

The peloton competes in stage 18 of the trans-Vietnam cycling race for HTV Television Cup 2026, on the morning of 22/4. Photo: Huy Pham

The peloton competes in stage 18 of the trans-Vietnam cycling race for HTV Television Cup 2026, on the morning of 22/4. Photo: Huy Pham

Led by their core quartet of Nguyen Hoang Sang, Le Ngoc Son, Nguyen Tan Hoai, and Quang Van Cuong, the public security team consistently initiated breakaways to create significant gaps. However, under the guidance of experienced coach Do Thanh Dat, the two TP HCM teams prevented these groups from getting too far ahead. They skillfully alternated between accelerating and maintaining their position, effectively controlling riders attempting to break away.

Teams from Dong Nai, Military Region 7, An Giang, Vinh Long, and Dong Thap also launched active attacks, allowing their strong riders to escape the main group. As a result, Amanuel Teklehamanot (Vinh Long) won sprint 1. In sprint 2, Trinh Duc Tam triumphed over Pham Le Xuan Loc.

With 15 km remaining, the trio of Duc Tam, Teklehamanot, and Janssen broke away from the main peloton, accelerating towards the finish line. Leveraging his experience and familiarity with the route, veteran Duc Tam gradually overtook the two foreign riders with 1 km to go, cruising to victory in 3 hours 38 minutes 40 seconds, achieving an average speed of 45,55 km/h. This marks his first stage win in this year's race. Teklehamanot and Janssen finished second and third, respectively.

Trinh Duc Tam finishes stage 18 alone.

Born in 1992 in Hung Yen, Trinh Duc Tam is a renowned road cyclist in Vietnamese cycling. He developed his skills at the Hanoi training center before joining An Giang. Known by the nickname "King of the Tractor", Duc Tam has achieved many successes throughout his career competing for An Giang and the Vietnam national team.

"The pace of today's stage was high, and the intensity was so great that I sometimes wanted to give up", Tam said after finishing first. "But with the constant encouragement and guidance from the coaching staff, I tried my best to bring home the victory."

As the main peloton, including the yellow jersey wearer, finished 16 seconds behind the stage winner, the overall standings remained unchanged. Yarash (New Group) retained the yellow jersey, while Pham Le Xuan Loc (Military Region 7) kept the orange jersey for the best Vietnamese rider. Dzianis wore the green jersey as the sprint king, and Tran Trong Phuc (Dong Nai) held the white jersey for the best young rider.

Vinama maintained its lead in the team classification, with Public Security of TP HCM in second place and Dong Nai in third. The competition for the red jersey, awarded to the King of the Mountains, concluded in the previous stage with a victory for Moise (Vinama).

Rider Trinh Duc Tam celebrates his stage 18 victory at the trans-Vietnam cycling race for HTV Television Cup 2026, at noon on 22/4. Photo: Huy Pham

Rider Trinh Duc Tam celebrates his stage 18 victory at the trans-Vietnam cycling race for HTV Television Cup 2026, at noon on 22/4. Photo: Huy Pham

The national cycling race for the TP HCM Television Cup - Ton Dong A 2026 runs from 3/4 to 30/4/2026. The peloton started from Phu Tho, the ancestral land of the Vietnamese people, deeply connected to the worship of the Hung Kings and the sacred Hung Temple historical site. The race then traverses 25 stages, covering a total distance of 2.745 km, passing through provinces and cities from north to south, before concluding at Thong Nhat Hall, TP HCM, on 30/4.

On 23/4, riders will have a rest day in Vung Tau ward (TP HCM) before competing in stage 19, a 5 km individual time trial, on 24/4.