The Ho Chi Minh Television Cycling Tournament - Ton Dong A Cup 2018 kicked off in Lang Son on March 29 with a total prize kitty of nearly VND3 billion.

French cyclist Loic Desriac 

Thirteen local teams will compete across 30 race stages, with the course covering a total distance of 3,267km.

On the 6.4km long first stage, the yellow jersey went to French cyclist Loic Desriac of the Bike Like Dong Nai team, with the best overall time of 7m 18s 19ms, followed by Spanish cyclist Sarda Javier of An Giang Hat Ngoc Troi Rice team on 7m 29s 68ms, and Vietnamese cyclist Mai Nguyen Hung of the Vietnam USA Society English Centers team based in HCM City with 7m 33s 50ms.

After the opening ceremony, the race continued its 40km long second stage around Lang Son city.

Notably, this year, cyclists are being randomly selected for doping tests. Athletes who test positive for doping will be stripped of all their achievements and titles.

The tournament will last until April 30.

VOV