Xu Gang of China, riding for the Max Success Sports team, won the third stage of the Tour de Korea on April 17 in bold fashion. Gang defeated countryman Seo Joon Yong in a sprint finish to claim victory in the 203.3 kilometer stage from Gangjin to Gunsan with a time of 4:53:18. The win moved Xu to sixth place in the General Classification after the stage, 1:07 behind Austrian cyclist Markus Eibegger of the Iranian Tabriz Petrochemical Team.

The long 203.3 kilometer stage was intensely fought early after a breakaway developed at the 30-km. mark containing 15 riders from several different teams. The breakaway was neutralized by the peloton at 40 km., but the attacks continued – only to end in the same way. Finally, around the 180-km. point, a 17-rider group containing Xu Gang managed to get away. With the peloton chasing hard to catch up, Xu attacked his breakaway companions with 4 km. remaining to claim a slim yet decisive victory.

The 2011 Tour de Korea, a nine-stage race featuring 20 pro teams from all major cycling countries, including the Japan National Team, Korea Selection Team, Iran Tabriz Petrochemical Team, and Kenda Jelly-Belly Team, concludes in Seoul on April 24.