1599 Tour de Valland

[Hadash]

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Stage 17 | Mountain stage - 185 km

A long breakaway was formed, with already more than sixteen riders at the beginning of the last climb. Svarnan climber Rahul Bhattacharya (Baagh Cycling), Kyrzbekistani champion Almas Cingur (KyrzAir), Vallish Sylvestre Richelieu (Télecon), and Goldecian Jack Marshall (Ogo Cycling) proved the strongest riders of the breakaway.

A last attack by Cingur in the final kilometre, left behind Bhattacharya, who had wasted too much energy in the last climb. However, the young Richelieu would defeat on the final metres to the Kyrzbek climber and Marshall to win his first stage in the Tour de Valland.

Behind, Roman Herzogenrath suffered again the pace imposed by Magram and Bagdati teams in the last climb and the attacks by Ceribian Pharnavaz Undiladze and Kyrzbekistani Damir Zagipur (KyrzAir), and would end losing a minute and eight seconds to Kalnins, who as a consequence was behind only fifty-seven seconds in the general classification before the last ITT and the final high mountain stage.

Damir Zagipur climbed to the third position at three minutes and seventeen seconds, while 1598 winner Undiladze was fourth at three minutes and fifty-six seconds.

The winner of the stage, Richelieu, climbed to the fifth place at four minutes and seventeen seconds, only one minute behind Zagipur in the Youth classification, although previsibly he was expected to work for Herzogenrath in the final mountain stage.

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Stage 18 | ITT - 17 km

The final individual time-trial -which was twenty kilometres shorter than the first one, and included climbed a five-kilometre hill and its descend- did not bring important differences between leader Herzogenrath and Kalnins, as the Dyrheimer rider improved only two seconds to the Seljis climber in the finish.

Sylvestre Richelieu (Télecon) was the fastest of the riders of the general classification, as he climbed to the third position, two minutes and forty-four second behind Herzogenrath, increasing speculations that -if possible- Télecon Team may try to defend both the red jersey and Richelieu's virtual place in the podium. He also took the Youth classification jersey, after overcoming Zagipur in the general classification.

That seemed unlikely, however, as Ceribian Pharnavaz Undiladze (Bagdati) did a better ITT than expected, and improving Herzogenrath's time in more than a minute and he was fourth in the general classification at two minutes and forty-eight seconds, that is, only four seconds behind Richelieu.

Damir Zagipur (KyrzAir) was fifth, despite unexpectedly improving both Herzogenrath and Kalnins time in the stage, at three minutes in the general classification.

Mordvanian Maksymilian Zakrzewsky (Mordvelo) was sixth at three minutes and thirty-one seconds in the general classification.

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Stage 19 | Mountain stage - 146 km


In the final high mountain stage, Télecon Team tried to control the race from the start, avoiding any succesful breakaway.

Adwestene champion Eden Grace Weatherhead (Scholden-Gulcron) was the first to launch a consistent attack at the beginning of the last climb. Télecon team did not react, with Soyabarian Ulrick Vandenhof imposing a high pace.

Several kilometres later, the leader Roman Herzogenrath (Télecon) surprised many, not only resisting the first attacks by Undiladze and Kalnins, but launching his own attack immediately afterwards, going alone without opposition.

The Dyrheim climber would catch Weatherhead in the final kilometres, who could follow his pace. Herzogenrath would easily defeat Weatherhead to win his second individual stage this Tour de Valland, his sixth since 1593.

Kalnins had not his best day, and he would end losing almost two minutes to Herzogenrath. Still, he was able to save his second place in the general classification, at two minutes and forty-one seconds.

Kyrzbekistani climber Damir Zagipur (KyrzAir) was one the best in the main group, arriving to finish forty-six seconds after Herzogenrath, which gave him the third position in the general classification at three minutes and fifty-four seconds.

Undiladze arrived fifty second after Zagipur, losing his place in the podium, finishing fourth in the general classification at four minutes and thrity-two seconds.

Richelieu, who worked for Herzogenrath shortly before the 1599 winner decided to continue alone, would lose, completely exhausted, more than five minutes, losing all options to the podium and the Youth classification, ending ninth in the general classification in his second Tour de Valland.

Nerysian Munderic Aidas (Nenergo), who arrived in Kalnins' group, finished fifth in the general classification at six minutes and six seconds.

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Stage 20 | Flat stage - 113 km

Mordvanian sprinter Miroslav Gradishar (Iskra Team) won his third stage in Lauren, which also gave him the Points classification, as Ahlgren could only finished eight.

Florinthian sprinter Quentin Symonds (Dido-GDC) was second while Galeaen Melker Rausing (Yetech-Druzhberg) finished third in a close sprint.

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