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Eden Grace Weatherhead wins 1593 Ceribian Tour
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Nueva 28, 1593


Eden Grace Weatherhead won the Ceribian Tour along two high mountain stages and the Mountain classification.


Etora, Ceribia - Eden Grace Weatherhead (Tyrus-Empire) won his first Ceribian Tour.

The 1593 Ceribian Tour started with a 22-km team time-trial. The stage was surprisingly won by Sequoian team Le Cycle Super. BataVelo was second at twelve seconds while Vallish team Vançotte was third at eighteen seconds. Maurnnian Didier de Cromm was the first leader of the general classification.

Before the first mountain stage, the first week of the race took place in the Ceribian plains, in several flat and hilly places dominated by Nylander Anzcell Cycling team. Batavian sprinter won stage 2, while his teammate Nylander Michael Ahlgren won the next stage. Frederik de Jong would win again on stage 4, and he would repeat, winning his third stagae the next day, after defeating Lomarren Francesco Gassendi (Yetech-Druzhberg) and Kyrzbekistani Ilsat Alimur (KyrzAir). The Batavian sprinter would take the red jersey as leader of the general classification that day as well, along increasing his lead on the Point classification.

There were no surprises and Frederik de Jong won again on stage 6, the last one before the first high mountain stage, after defeating Ander Vitecz (Yetach-Druzhberg) and Kárdas Nyíregyházi (NDM Cycling).

The peloton started the first mountain stage, on stage 7, at a high speed, and, following the first attack by Mordvanian Rajko Kryzanek (Iskra Team) and Batavian Jaap Frisch (BataVelo), the main group was reduced to seven riders. Frisch won the stage after outpacing the Mordvanian in the final two kilometres, winning his first stage in a Grand Tour. Vallish climber Benoît Montfleury (Télecon Team) arrived thirty seconds after Frisch, and six seconds later arrived Eden Grace Weatherhead (Tyrus-Empire), Nerysian Wulf Käufer (Luft Wurberg) and Oslanburgan Soren Syndergaard (Scholden-Gulcron).

The Tour de Valland champion Eden Grace Weatherhead was the new leader of the general classification, although only two seconds ahead of Florinthian David Hayward (Télecon) and three seconds over Nerysian Wulf Käufer.

Stage 8, a medium-mountain stage, was expected to be a chance for riders looking for a successful breakaway but a calm stage for the general classification. However, several riders, including Kyrzbekistani Almas Cingur (KyrzAir), Lomarren Alessio Gagliardi (BataVelo) or Florinthian Ronald Frazer (AHN-Bank of Florinthus) joined the early breakaway, creating problems for Tyrus-Empire, which was unable to reduce the gap between the breakaway and the peloton. It was precisely Adwestene Art McLeod, the only Tyrus-Empire rider in the breakaway who would win the stage, after defeating Vallish Gaston Martel and August Thackeray in the final metres, but it turned into a bittersweet victory as Weatherhead ended the final kilometres isolated and lost extra seconds, losing the golden jersey. Florinthian David Hayward (Télecon) was the new leader of the general classification, with Kyrzbekistani Almas Cingur (KyrzAir) second at twenty-two seconds. Mordvanian Rajko Kryzanek (Iskra) was third at twenty-seven seconds while Weatherhead dropped to the fourth place at fifty-eight seconds.

Sprinters had another chance on stage 9, in which Anzcell Cycling and Dido-GDC frustrated any chance for a successful breakaway. Ceribian sprinter Sergo Gvarjaladze (Bagdati Team) defeated Mordvanian Miroslav Gradishar (Iskra) and Florinthian Quentin Symonds (Dido-GDC) to win his first stage in the Ceribian Tour, his second Grand Tour individual stage win after winning a stage on last Tour de Valland as well. Mordvanian Rajko Kryzanek was involved in a crash and lost about one minute, dropping from the top ten as consequence, which allowed Weatherhead to climb to the third place, with no further important changes in the general classification.

The peloton were only able to abort the breakaway on stage 10, a 231-km hilly stage, on the final kilometres, which was won by Filip Nauer (Yetech-Druzhberg), who defeated Kyrzbekistan Ilsat Alimur (KyrzAir) and Florinthian James McCabe (Dido-GDC) in a close and chaotic sprint. There were not important changes in the general classification that day.

After the first rest day, the first individual time-trial (ITT) of this Ceribian Tour was won by Adwestene Gerry Bowes-Heeley (Tyrus-Empire), in a great season for the Adwestene time-trialist, as he already won two stages in the last Tour de Valland. Florinthian David Hayward (Télecon) increased his lead on the general classification, over one minute ahead of Nerysian Wulf Käufer, who was now second. Mordvanian Walentyn Lauterpacht (Mordvelo) was third at one minute and twenty-seconds, while climbers such as Weatherhead or Cingur were distanced in the general classification.

The peloton had another calm day before reentering to the high mountain, with a flat stage on stage 12. The stage was won by Keszarian Kárdas Nyíregyházi (NDM Cycling), after defeating Julius Magnusson (Anzcell) and Sav Jacobs (Dido-GDC).

Tyrus-Empire and Magram teams imposed a high pace on stage 13, and leader David Hayward started to suffer in the first kilometres of the only and final climb of the day. The main was already reduced to fourteen riders and Hayward already struggling to not losing many metres from the group when Eden Grace Weatherhead attacked without opposition. Weatherhead would easily overcome Ceribian Shalva Jughasvili, who had attacked earlier on the stage, to win easily his third individual stage in a Ceribian Tour. Nerysian Wulf Käufer was the new leader of the general classification, with only seventeen seconds ahead of Mordvanian Walentyn Lauterpacht. Weatherhead recovered the third place in the general classification, now at one minute and sixteen seconds. David Hayward, who lost almost four minutes that day, was fourth at one minute and forty-six seconds.

On stage 14, another short high mountain stage, the main group was reduced to twenty riders before the last climb, while only Nylander Lars Brunewald (Magram) and the young Dyrheimer Roman Herzogenrath (Télecon) remained ahead from the breakaway. This time, only Goldecian Caleb Foster (Ogo Cycling) was able to follow Weatherhead. Weatherhead was not able to drop the young Dyrheimer climber in the last kilometres and Roman Herzogenrath (Télecon) won his first Ceribian Tour individual stage -after winning another high mountain stage in the last Tour de Valland- at only 23 years old.

Eden Grace Weatherhead (Tyrus-Empire) was the new leader of the general classification, with Nerysian Wulf Käufer at forty-eight seconds, with Mordvanian Walentyn Lauterpacht (Mordvelo) at one minute and one second. Herzogenrath (Télecon) was fourth at one minute and thirty-nine seconds, also taking the Youth classification jersey, while 1591 and 1592 champion Almas Cingur (KyrzAir) was third at two minutes and nine seconds, after losing more than a minute that day to Weatherhead.

Tyrus-Empire faced problems to control the third high mountain stage in a row, however, and Weatherhead, probably paying the efforts of the previous days, would suffer in the last climb, dropping from the main group after attacks by Caleb Foster and Benoît Montfleury. Roman Herzogenrath won the stage again, proving to be one of the most promising riders of the young generation, after defeating Jevgenijs Kalnins (Bagdati) in the final metres. Weatherhead was able to kept the golden jersey but his lead diminished to seventeen seconds ahead of Roman Herzogenrath (Télecon) while Wulf Käufer kept the other place in the podium at forty-eight seconds. Kyrzbekistani Almas Cingur was fourth at one minute and fourteen seconds.

Sprinters had another chance, the last one before the final day, in the next stage. Frederik de Jong (Anzcell) won his fifth individual stage this Ceribian Tour after defeating Kárdas Nyíregyházi and Ilsat Alimur. Frederik de Jong also clinched his Point classification jersey, which he would win for second time after 1589.

High mountain returned on stage 17. An early and large breakaway was formed, including top riders such as Jevgenijs Kalnins (Bagdati), Strathaen Tuathal Seòras (United Strathae), Lomarren Alessio Gagliardi and Batavian Jaap Frisch (BataVelo), Gehennan Max Pappenheim (Dido-GDC) and Vallish Germain Guimard (Scholden-Gulcron). Behind, Weatherhead imposed a high speed on the last climb, dropping his main rivals. Germain Guimard defeated Max Pappenheim in the sprint to win the stage.

One day before the lasta ITT, Weatherhead consolidated his lead in the general classification, with Wulf Käufer second at two minutes and twenty-two seconds. Kyrzbekistani champion Almas Cingur was third at two minutes and fifty-eight seconds, while the young Max Pappenheim climbed to the fourth place at three minutes and twenty-seconds. Roman Herzogenrath was fourth at four minutes and one second, and therefore losing the Youth jersey to Pappenheim.

Eden Grace Weatherhead did a great performance on the 27-km individual time-trial after the last rest day, and althoug he lost some time, his lead in the general classification was only reduced to two minutes and one second ahead of Nerysian Wulf Käufer, an apparently more than safe lead before the final mountain stage, while Max Pappenheim climbed to the third place at two minutes and fifty-seven seconds. Almas Cingur was fourth now at more than three minutes and therefore expectedly losing all options to the final victory.

Despite his safe lead, Eden Grace Weatherhead was not willing to give some ground to his rivals, and attacked in the final climb, following the first attacks by Almas Cingur and Amaury Servan (Nenergo Cycling). He would catch the two remaining riders from the breakaway, Mordvanians Zeljko Bratansek (Mordvelo) and Marcus Gucevicius (Vançotte) to easily win his second individual stage this Ceribian Tour and the Mountain classification as well. Forty seconds later arrived Wulf Käufer, who easily defended his second position, with Roman Herzogenrath and Nerysian Godomar Guur (MTS-Biassoni) arriving a few seconds after Käufer. Amaury Servan and Almas Cingun lost fifty-three seconds after Weatherhead.

After winning the three last Tour de Vallad with a lead on general classification behind one minute, the Adwestene champion Eden Grace Weatherhead showed in the Ceribian Tour that he has not rival in a three-week race, winning his first Ceribian Tour and becoming the seventh rider to win both Tour de Valland and Ceribian Tour the same season.

Nerysian Wulf Käufer (Luft Wurberg) was second at three minutes in the general classification, in the best performance in a Grand Tour for the Nerysiain rider. Kyrzbekistani Almas Cingur (KyrzAir) was third at four minutes and thirty-two seconds, in his fifth podium in a Grand Tour.

Roman Herzogenrath (Télecon) was fourth at five minutes and one second, winning the Youth classification with one minute and one second lead over Gehennan Max Pappenheim (Dido-GDC), who was fifth in the general classification.

On the final stage, ended on Etora, Batavian Frederik de Jong won his sixth stage this Ceribian Tour to prove he's the fastest sprinter on the peloton once again.

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Richard Malone Classic Race prepares for SCA Global Tour
By Florinda Johnson
Published: Tolven 16, 1593


Richard Malone retired in 1591 after a successful 19-year professional career.


Tarleton, Florinthus - Nylander Chester Stenbeck (Anzcell Cycling) won the second edition of the Richard Malone Classic Race, easily defeating Florinthians Martin Reynolds and Francis Gracewall, only two weeks later that it was confirmed that local race, named after Florinthian sprinter Richard Malone - who retired in 1591- will be included in the Global Tour in 1594 by the Sioran Cycling Association.

The race is jointly organized by Florinthian company and the Richard Malone Foundation, a non-profit organization headed by the retired cyclist himself and which aims to promote cycling in the Florinthian youth. The cycling race was already part of the Brigidnan championship in its first season, which was won by Florinthian Gary Duckworth. The one-day race, which had a total of 247 kilometres this year, is held between the towns of Fulkslade and Tarleton, and although it include some minor hills, it is considered a perfect terrain for sprinters.

Richard Malone, 41, is considered the best professional cyclist in Florinthian history, and many consider him one of the best sprinters, if not the best, in the history of modern cycling. He started his career in Air Florinthus in 1571, and retiring in another Florinthian team, Dido-Great Life, in 1593. In between, he had a highly successful cycling career, winning two World Championships (and obtaining medals in another six, between 1575 and 1591), winning 41 individual stages in the Tour de Valland and 52 individual stages in the Ceribian Tour, along holding the record of most times winning the Points classification in both races (six times in the case of the Tour de Valland, and nine in the case of the Ceribian Tour). He also won other Global Tour races such as Tour of Kaffau, Bademburg Classic (three times) Tour of Hamfurt (twice), Wien-Baslou-Wien Race (five times), Tour of Herlev (twice), the Roune Classic, the Mestarka Classic (three times), Tour of Florinthus, the Leroux Classic, the Heldenstadt Classic, the Lake Arthur Classic or the GP Brummagen (twice).

Malone famously found his main rival in Oslanburgan sprinter Sven-Ole Wieth (still in active) who won five times the World Champinoship during Malone's career (and another three medals, making Wieth and Malone the two riders with most Road Race medals in the history of the World Cycling Championship), although the Oslanburgan rider was less successful in Grand Tours.

Last year, it was rumoured that he was going to join the management of Florinthian team Dido-GDC, and more recently, it was discussed as a likely candidate for team director of the Florinthian national team, although Malone has declared that he wishes to focus in his cycling foundation for now.

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Almas Cingur wins 1594 Tour de Valland
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Nueva 28, 1594


Almas Cingur won also his third stage in Tour de Valland, exactly ten years after his first one.


Lauren, Valland - Kyrzbekistani climber Almas Cingur (KyrzAir) won his first Tour de Valland, becoming the second Kyrzbekistani rider to win the Tour de Valland.

The 1594 Tour de Valland started with a clear favourite, Adwestene Eden Grace Weatherhead, who hoped to win his fifth Tour in a row in order to become the first rider to win five Tour de Valland. His main rival was expected to be Kyrzbekistani climber Almas Cingur, who was runner-up the two previous season. Both riders showed early in the season their ambition and strength, with Weatherhead winning the Tour of Florinthus and the Tour of Keszaria, and Cingur clearly winning the Tour of Eskkya and two stages in the Criterium of Ventmont.

The Tour started with an early surprise, as the first stage did not end in the expected sprint, but rather in a small group of twelve riders who took advantage of the doubts of the peloton and a complicated terrain 30 km beforer the finish. The stage was won by Otto Biashke (ZMG-Nissen) who became the first Voltan rider to win a stage in the Tour de Valland (and as consequence, also the first Voltan to wear the red jersey the next day).

More important diffences came with stage 2, a 18-km Team time-trial (TTT) stage, which was won by Sequoian Le Cycle Super, which improved Télecon Team and Luft Wurberg Cycling time in thirteen seconds. Kazemuran Ryouichi Takenaka (Le Cycle Super) was the new leader of the general classification, which he would kept until stage 9. Despite the surprise on stage 1, the rest of days of the first week seemed favourable for teams aiming to work for their sprinters, and so it was.

On stage 3, Oslanburgan Sven-Ole Wieth (Scholden-Gulcron) defeated Kyrzbekistani Ilsat Alimur (KyrzAir) and Vienlander Ander Vitecz (Yetech-Druzhberg) to win his 26th stage in the Tour de Valland. The next day, Mordvanian Miroslav Gradishar (Iskra) defeated Ander Vitecz and Florinthian Quentin Symonds (Dido-GDC). A more chaotic followed on stage 5, in which Adwestene sprinter Varchar Mellent (Tyrus-Empire) defeated Mordvanian Rein Warma (Iskra). The main favourite to win the Points classification, Batavian Frederik de Jong, and most successful sprinter in the last five years, only won his first stage in the 1594 Tour de Valland on the sixth stage, in which he defeated Gradishar and Symonds.

The Batavian sprinter was close to win his second stage, but that prize ended for the veteran Oslanburgan, as Wieth defeated de Jong in a close sprint. On stage 8, Frederik de Jong won his second stage his season after defeating Ander Vitecz and Rein Warma, taking the Points classification for first time in this Tour.

On stage 9, a tough hilly stage, other riders were able to have a change to fight for the stage. A large breakaway was formed, which still included eight riders ten kilometres to the finish. Oslanburgan Morten Kaas defeated Adwestene Art McLeod (Tyrus-Empire) to give the third individual stage to Scholden-Gulcron. Vallish Gaston Martel (Iskra) who came third about seven seconds after Kaas and McLeod became the new leader of the general classification with a comfortable lead at least until the first mountain stage.

Before that, sprinters had a new chance on stage 10. That story had the expected conclusion, however, as Frederik de Jong won his third stage, defeating Ceribian Sergo Gvarjaladze (Bagdati) and Keszarian Kárdas Nyíregyházi (NDM Cycling) to win 30th individual stage in the Tour de Valland.

High mountain arrived on stage 11, although it was not expected to create big differences as it had only one serious climb and ended in a short but technicall descend. Already in the main and last climb, the main group was reduced to fourteen riders, including the two favourites, Eden Grace Weatherhead and Almas Cingur. Veteran Vallish Hippolyte La Chapelle proved to be the fastest rider in the descend, winning easily to a trio formed by Nylander Blaise Brunschvicq (ZMG-Nissen), Eskkyan Amaury Servan (Nenergo) and Batavian Jaap Frisch (BataVelo). Cingur and Weatherhead lost ten and sixteen seconds, respectively. Jaap Frisch was the new leader of the general classification, while Jose Cardoso (MTS-Biassoni) was second at twenty-eight seconds. Weatherhead was seventh, at one minute and thirty-five seconds.

Stage 12 was considered a medium-mountain stage rather than high mountain, despite the stage started with a 1-category climb followed by another 2-category climbs. A large was formed early, which included favourite riders such as Benoît Montfleury (Télecon) and Jonathan Geissler (ZMG-Nissen) along other who were already actived the previous day, such as La Chapelle and Strathaen Sechnall MacCeallaig. Mordvanian Walentyn Lauterpacht (Mordvelo) dropped his main rivals in the breakway to beat Goldecian Caleb Foster (Ogo Cycling) in the sprint. Jose Cardoso took the red jersey, with Jaap Frisch losing it by only seven seconds. Weatherhead was now sixth, improving a position, although at more than two minutes to the new leader. However, a more demanding high mountain stage was expecting the peloton the next day.

On stage 13, Tyrus-Empire toughened the race since almost the beginning of the stage, occasionally helped by teams such as United Strathae and Magram. Already before the last climb the main group was reduced to twelve riders, with Cardoso and Frisch dropping a few kilometres after starting the climb. Following an attack by Weatherhead, the group was already reduced to eight riders, including the Adwestene champion. However, Weatherhead would not be able to follow another attack by Goldecian Caleb Foster, who was only followed by Almas Cingur (KyrzAir) and, not without problems by Eskkyan Amaury Servan (Nenergo) and Nerysian Wulf Käufer (Luft Wurberg). Cingur beat Foster in the final metres to win the stage. Weatherhead would lose one minute and five seconds, although it was a worse day for riders such as Jaap Frisch, who lost almost three minutes and Cardoso, who started the stage as leader of the general classification to lose more than three minutes at the end.

Goldecian Caleb Foster (Ogo Cycling) was the new leader of the general classification, with Eskkyan Amaury Servan at one minute and eight second. Despite his bad day, Jaap Frisch retained a place in the podium, at one minute and twenty-seconds. Almas Cingur was now fourth, still more than two minutes, while Weatherhead was fifth at two minutes and six seconds.

The peloton took relatively easier the next stage, which was decided in the sprint, without important changes in the general classification. The stage was more than tough for many sprinters, which along the fatigue of the previous day, gave a chance to different sprinters than the first week. That way, Strathaen Aonghus Tadg (United Strathae) defeated Florinthian Quentin Symonds (Dido-GDC) and Varchar Mellent (Tyrus-Empire) to win his first stage in the Tour de Valland. A similar result followed the next stage, with Quentin Symonds winning his first individual stage in a Grand Tour after defeating Tadg with Mellent being again third.

On stage 16, high mountain returned. A breakaway was early formed, with Hippolyte La Chapelle, and Mordvanian Zeljko Bratansek (Mordvelo) and Ceribian Irakli Kapanadze (BataVelo) as last survivors. Behind, the main group was reduced to nine riders after Adwestene Hubert Salika (Tyrus-Empire), working for his leader Eden Weatherhead, imposed a high pace which Goldecian Caleb Foster struggled to follow. Bratansek suffered to win the stage with merely five seconds ahead of Strathaen Sechnall MacCeallaigh and Almas Cingur, who had just caught Kapanadze in the final kilometre. Ten seconds after Bratansek arrived Weatherhead and Jevgenijs Kalnins (Magram).

Caleb Foster, ending eleventh, lost nearby a minute to Weatherhead and Cingur, being reduced his lead in the general classification to one minute and eight seconds over Weatherhead and one minute and thirty-eight seconds over the Kyrzbekistani climber. Jaap Frisch dropped to the fourth place, at two minutes and nine seconds.

On stage 17, Foster was again unable to follow Weatherhead and Cingur, who saw no rival marching together and without further company - while keeping to attack each other. Foster lost one minute and eight second against both, and therefore losing the red jersey by only five seconds, as Weatherhead took five bonus seconds after ending second in the stage. Almas Cingur was third at thirty-three seconds, while Batavian Jaap Frisch saw complicated his options to the podium, as three minutes and forty-five seconds. The stage was won by Eskkyan Pierre Bonchamps (Le Cycle Super), his seventh Tour de Valland individual stage in eight years.

The last high mountain arrived, with three riders with clear options for the victory, although Weatherhead was still considered the favourite as not only he had a small advantage over his rivals but he was considered better time-trialist than Foster and Cingur for the final ITT on stage 19. The main group was reduced to twenty riders when they started to climb the mythical Mount Valloux. Caleb Foster soon started to suffer in the group along the BataVelo riders Jaap Frisch and Alessio Gagliardi. Ahead, Kazemuran Ryouichi Takenaka (Le Cycle Super) and Oslanburgan Jonathan Geisslen (ZMG-Nissen) were the only two remaining riders from the breakaway.

Weatherhead did not doubt to try to answer every attack, probably aiming to consolidate his fifth Tour de Valland with a victory in one historical climb. However, following an attack Strathaen Sechnall MacCeallaigh, which Weatherhead struggled to neutralize while being followed by Almas Cingur, it seemed clear that everything was still to be decided. 6 km to go, Weatherhead was not able to follow an attack Cingur, and saw as the Kyrzbekistani and Strathaen climbers advanced without him. Soon, he was overcame by Vallish Benoît Montfleury (Télecon) and Mordvanian Marcus Gucevicius (Vançotte). Meanwhile, ahead of all them, 34-year old Oslanburgan Jonathan Geissler (ZMG-Nissen), after dropping earlier Takenaka, suffered to keep his lead, probably knowning that he was not going to have more chances to write his name in such climb.

Jonathan Geissler was able to win the stage, his four individual stage in the Tour de Valland, with only dozen seconds ahead of Cingur and Sechnall, who crossed the line followed by Takenaka. Thirty seconds later, Montfleury and Gucevicius, along Goldecian Jack Marshall (Ogo Cycling). Weatherhead lost more than one minute, arriving in a small group which included Goldecian Caleb Foster and other six riders, one minute and twenty-four seconds, in probably his worst day in the Tour de Valland in the last five years.

With only the final ITT, Almas Cingur took the red jersey, while Weatherhead was now second at one minute and one second. Caleb Foster was third, only five seconds behind Weatherhead. Benoît Montfleury climbed to the fourth place, although without realistic options to the podium, as he was at five minutes and fourty-four seconds. Goldecian Jack Marshall was fifth, while Batavian Jaap Frisch and Mordvanian Marcus Gucevicius were sixth and seventh, respectively.

With everything to decide, both the winner of the Tour and the order of the podium, after the final rest day, the last individual time trial was expected to decide one of the most exciting Tours of the present decade. The stage was won by Didier de Cromm (Le Cycle Super), who won a Tour de Valland individual stage six year later. It became obvious soon that Goldecian Caleb Foster could not aspire to anything more than to keep the third place in the podium, as he lost fifty-six and forty-nine seconds to Weatherhead and Cingur, respectively, in the first ten kilometres. Weatherhead kept improving Cingur time kilometre after kilometre, but Cingur was able to resist, only twenty-four seconds at the end of the stage, although not without suffering and tension. Exhausted, Almas Cingur barely could celebrate his victory after crossing the finish.

In the final general classification, Almas Cingur was able to win his first Tour de Valland, with thirty-seven second ahead of Eden Grace Weatherhead (Tyrus-Empire), who had defeated him in the last two seasons. Cingur becomes the second Kyrzbekistani rider to win the Tour de Valland, after Gjöke Kelmend win in 1571 (and the first Kyrzbek, as Kelmend was an ethnic Arberian). It was the third Grand Tour for Cingur, who had previously won the Ceribian Tour in 1591 and 1592. Besides winning the  general classification, Cingur also won the Mountain classification.

Weatherhead was unable to beat Jacques Gaudin, although it is surely that he will try again next season. It was the the seventh podium for the Adwestene climber, a feat only achieved by Jacques Gaudin, who ended eight times in the podium between 1511 and 1520.

Goldecian Caleb Foster (Ogo Cycling) ended third, at three minutes and twelve seconds, after at not very brilliant time-trial, but enough to keep the third place, becoming the second Goldecian to reach the podium in the Tour de Valland. Benoît Montfleury (Télecon) was the first Vallish rider in the general classification, at four minutes and forty-four seconds. Batavian Jaap Frisch (BataVelo) was fifth at six minutes and forty-three seconds, while Goldecian Jack Marshall (Ogo Cycling) was sixth at seven minutes and twenty-two seconds. Roman Herzogenrath (Télecon), who ended 19th, won the Youth classification.

Only two things were left to decide on the final stage in Lauren, the winner of the stage and the winner of the Points classification. Frederik de Jong had a relatively comfortable lead as he only needed to finish seventh to win the Points classification for sixth time, becoming the second rider to win the Points classification six times in total and four in a row - both records held by Florinthian Richard Malone. His only rival was the veteran Oslanburgan sprinter Sven-Ole Wieth (Scholden-Gulcron). De Jong's team, Nylander Anzcell Cycling worked hard for de Jong during all day. However, an unexpected puncture in the final kilometre, left de Jong without options to fight for the stage. Still, Wieth needed to win the stage, something he did after beating de Jong's teammate Julius Magnusson and Varchar Mellent in a close sprint. After the finish, Wieth declared that he was surprised to win the Points classification for third time as everyone else, which he achieved by merely a few seconds (Wieth had previously won the Points classification in 1585 and 1587).

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Eden Grace Weatherhead wins 1594 Ceribian Tour
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Nueva 25, 1594


Weatherhead successfully defended the title, despite his disappointment in the recent Tour de Valland


Etora, Ceribia - Eden Grace Weatherhead won his second Ceribian Tour, two months after failing to win his fifth Tour de Valland.

Weatherhead (Tyrus-Empire), 31, who had won the Ceribian Tour the previous season, in which he won the Grand Double (that is, winning both the Tour de Valland and Ceribian Tour the same season), consolidated his victory in the long individual time-trial on stage 13. Although he lost the golden jersey on stage 15, after which Batavian Jaap Frisch (BataVelo) took the leadership, he recovered it in the second-to-last high mountain stage, in which Frisch lost all options to the podium after losing more than five minutes, and he was able to defend his leadership from Almas Cingur to win his sixth Grand Tour since 1590.

Kyrzbekistani climber Almas Cingur (KyrzAir), the winner of the last Tour de Valland, was second at one minute and one second, in his seventh podium in a Grand Tour, winning as well the Mountain classification again. Nentsian Viktar Husevich (Nenergo) was third at five minutes and thirty-four, after outplacing Kazemuran Ryouichi Takenaka (Le Cycle Super) by only a second. The Ceribian rider in the general classification was Mukhran Chavchavadze (Magram) who was fifth at five minutes and forty-one seconds, while Jaap Frisch ended sixth at six minutes and seventeen seconds. Mordvanian Maksymilian Zakrzewsky (Iskra), who ended eighth, won the Youth classification.

Sven-Ole Wieth (Scholden-Gulcron) won the last stage in Etora, which was decided in a mass sprint without incidences. It was the fourth individual stage for Wieth, who seems living a second youth at age 39. However, the Points classification was won by Batavian Frederik de Jong (Anzcell), who also won four stages. Both seemed without a serious rival in the sprint for the coming 1594 World Championship Road Race in Slovograd, Mordvania.

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Sven-Ole Wieth wins 1594 Slovograd World Championship
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Dein 8, 1594


Sven-Ole Wieth gave Oslanburg their tenth World Championship since 1525


Slovograd, Mordvania - Oslanburgan sprinter Sven-Ole Wieth won his sixth World Championship Road Race, setting a new record since the World Championship started in 1521.

Wieth, who will be 39 years old in a month, also becomes the oldest cyclist to win a World Championship. He announced early this year that he would retire at the end of 1594 season unless he won the World Championship, which it seemed unlikely then, now he has declared that he will continue in the peloton "at least one season more", in order to wear the rainbow jersey during the year. It is unclear if Wieth will continue in Scholden-Gulcron, as his contract ended at the end of this season. However, it is likely that the Oslanburgan team will try to keep the World Champion, who started his career in the team, and has showed this season he can still beat the best sprinters, with victories this year in both Grand Tours, the World Championship, Mestarka Classic and Leroux Classic.

The road race ended in mass sprint in a reduced peloton, after 11-rider breakaway, which included local riders as Zdenek Hrovat and Bronislav Skranek, was caught only 13 kilometres before the finish. With six kilometres remaining East Kaljuran Alar Järvi went solo, but he was caught just before the final kilometre as sprinters were slowly into position for the final sprint.

Adwestene sprinter Kiel Albert Fyfe was the first to launch his sprint as the peloton came around the final corner with 300m remaining, and looked as if he could deliver a victory for the Adwestene national team, who has not won since Oswald Martin Winscar won in the 1559 Denfeld - Arrenland World Championship. Meanwhile, one of the main favourites, Batavian sprinter Frederik de Jong saw how he was ending isolated and blocked in the mass sprint, complicating his options to victory.

However, Wieth was able to get closer to Fyfe, followed by Keszarian Kárdas Nyíregyházi and Nylander Michael Ahlgren, while Mordvanian Rein Warma advanced on the right, giving some hope to the local crowd. As the line came closer, the five-time world champion Oslanburgan sprinter edged alongside then passed Fyfe to win by just a few centimetres in a close sprint.

Kiel Albert Fyfe ended second while, a wheel behind, Nylander Michael Ahlgren easily secured his bronze medal.

Besides winning his sixth World Championship, Wieth also won ninth medal (six golds, two silvers, one bronze), becoming the first man to do so. After winning the 1590 World Championship in Gregminster, Wieth career seemed slowly to fade away, as one would expect of a sprinter of such age. However, he certainly experienced a rebirth in the last two seasons, winning this season three stages in the Tour de Valland and four stages in the Ceribian Tour, a feat unusual for such veteran sprinters.

Wieth is the last survivor of the sprinters of his generation, founding in Florinthian Richard Malone his arch-enemy in the mass sprints. Wieth was not as succesful as the Florinthian sprinter in Grand Tours, winning 28 stages in the Tour de Valland and 16 individual stages in the Ceribian Tour (a striking achievement, but considerably below the 41 Tour de Valland stages and the 52 Ceribian Tour stages by the Florinthian stages), but Weith certainly found in the World Championship the perfect scenario to prove to be one of the fastest sprinters in cycling history.

Besides his success in the World Championship, Sven-Ole Wieth has also won races such as Badenburg Classic (four times), Tour of Hamfurt (twice), Mertarka Classic (three times), Leroux Classic (three times), Tour of Herlev (three times), the Tour of Jandrea or the Lake Arthur Classic (twice), along winning the Point classification in the Tour de Valland three times, including this season.

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West Brigidna prepares for 1595 Tour of Florinthus
By Pia Chamberlain
Published: Fein, 1595


Tour of Florinthus, 1594.


Kondag, Galeae - The longest and most international edition of the Tour of Florinthus will start today in Kondag, Galeae, surrounded both ambition and doubt.

For first time, the Tour of Florinthus will cross six countries -Florinthus, Galeae, Vienland, Oslandburg, Ostland, Kave- and expand from the traditional six individual stages to eleven stages - the longest Tour of Florinthus since the race was started in 1556.

The aim of the organizers is even more ambitious, though, as they aim to expand the race to a three-week race for the 1596 season, rename it as the more generic name of "Tour of West Brigidna", aiming to becoming at least in the third Grand Tour behind the Tour de Valland and the Ceribian Tour.

Critics in the cycling world have been skeptical about such move, claiming that it will increase unnecessarily the total number of competition days, that such grand tour would lack the prestige and identity that Tour de Valland and Ceribian Tour, and more often, that the West Brigidnan countries lack the mountain ranges that countries like Ceribia and Valland have, which make high mountain stages so competitive in those  grand tours.

Ostlander Andreas Strasser, who won the Tour de Valland in 1567 and the Ceribian Tour in 1569, has declared that "Florinthus and Oslanburg have certainly a wonderful terrain for demanding hilly stages and a few interesting isolated climbs, but I don't feel that they will be able to compete not even with Ceribian Tour".

FDT Sport, the organizers of the race, has a clearly different opinion, and they are certain that their proposal will be a success. The proposal, however, despite criticism from the media and a few teams, received the support of the Sioran Cycling Association, which probably will assure that -unless this season edition results in a complete failure- that the project is likely to continue and becomes a reality.

Despite the ausence of some of the favourites for the Tour de Valland -including four-time Tour de Valland champion Adwestene Eden Grace Weatherhead, who won the Tour of Florinthus in the last two previous season, who is having a more reduced cycling calendar early this season in order to prepare better for what it could  be his fifth Tour de Valland- the West Brigidnan fans are clearly enthusiastic about this project - if we trust the regional media and the Galeaen fans who are receiving the Tour. FDT Sport's decision has, however, clearly political overtones, as the move follows Florinthus, Oslanburg, Galeae and Vienland decision to form the West Brigidnan Union, and the race is understood as a step to increase ties between cycling fans of those countries. Despite this, the official ceremony in Kondag lacked any kind of political references, and most cycling teams and riders seem unaware or uninterested about such motivation.

The race will start in Kondag to cross Galeae, Florinthus, Vienland, Kave, Oslanburg, and Ostland in the following days (4 of the stages won't actually step in Florinthus soil a single kilometre), only to return to Florinthus and end in Denil, as it has been a tradition since 1566.

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Eden Grace Weatherhead writes history in the Tour de Valland once again
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Zechyr, 1595


The Adwestene champion took the red jersey after stage 19, in an ITT ended in Amarante


Lauren, Valland - Eden Grace Weatherhead (Scholden-Gulcron) proclaimed winner of the 1595 Tour of Valland, his fifth, overcoming the record of Jacques Gaudin, who won four Tours from 1513 to 1520.

"It is was my hardest victory here", Weatherhead declared about his fifth win in the Tour de Valland", in which he could only take the general classification in the Stage 19th, after the final ITT, by merely thirteen seconds over Kyrzbekistani Almas Cingur (KyrzAir), the second lowest difference between the winner and the runner-up in Tour de Valland's history.

It was certainly a very balanced Tour de Valland again -in the last three Tours, the differences between winner and runner-up were below one minute- but very chaotic, without a clear leader or team able to dominate or control the race. Weatherhead, who will be 34 next season, declares that he will aspire to win the Tour de Valland for a sixth year. He has confirmed that he will participate in this season Ceribian Tour, while he is not likely to participate in the World Championship, which will take place in Tynning, Nyland. Sprinters Varchar Mellent and Kiel Albert Fyfe, who had a brilliant Tour (the former won two stages and the Point classification, while the second won a stage and was close to win the mentioned classification) are expected to lead the Adwestene national team instead.

The incumbent champion, Kyrzbekistani Almas Cingur (KyrzAir) was close to repeat victory, but had to resign himself with his fourth podium in the Tour de Valland. The third place in the podium was for Ceribian Shalva Jughasvili (Magram), in the season of his confirmation, in which he also won an individual stage and the Tour of Florinthus.

One of the surprises was Mandavinian rider Max Rémy (Abbott Cycling), who although was to able to finish in the podium, won comfortably the Youth classification, becoming the first Mandavinian rider to do so. The young Dyrheimer climber, Roman Herzogenroth -despite a disappointing third week- proved to be one the promises for the future, being very active in high mountain during the first two weeks, and winning the Mountain classification.

Adwestene sprinter Varchar Mellent won the last stage in Lauren, defeating his countryman -and former teammate and main rival for the Points classification- Kiel Albert Fyfe. It was the second individual stage win in this Tour for Mellent. Florinthian Quentin Symonds (Dido-GDC) and veteran Oslanburgan champion Sven-Ole Wieth (NDM) were the other two riders to win a stage twice this season. For Wieth, it will likely be his last Tour de Valland as well, as he could retire after the World Championship in Nyland.

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Ostland wins Women's Brigidnan Cup for second time
By Milena Baumgarten
Published: Ochtyr, 1595


For first time, the Brigidnan Cup was decided in the penalty knockout.


Lauren, Valland - Ostland women's national team showed that what happened four years ago was not pure luck, winning their second Brigidnan Cup against the Oslanburgan team. Ostland, which surprised everyone winning the 1591 Brigidnan Cup in Harmajaa, becomes, along Aurentine, the only team to have won the Brigidnan Cup twice.

However, it was not an easy way for the final. With a much harder group than in 1591, after a 0-0 draw with Saratov, and a 1-2 loss against Videjszeme in the first two matches, the Ostland team faced Florinthus in the third match of the group stage. Only a win would have qualified them, but they were able to surprise the Florinthian team -which was considered one of the favourites to win the title-, defeating them 1-3.

In the quarterfinals they faced another West Brigidnan team, Galeae, which they were also able to defeated in a balanced -but more exciting than entertaining- winning 2-1. Then, Ostland team faced Carpathia and Moldova, which they defeated to reach their second Brigidnan Cup final, in a 2-0 win, probably their best football match in the tournament, as the Ostland showed way superior to their Southern Brigidinan rivals.

Oslanburg was waiting in the final, after qualifying to the quarterfinal defeating 6-1 to Vienland (the largest win in the history of the Brigidnan Cup), and defeating both Saratov and Nerysia in the extra time. Despite facing the incumbent champions, many considered Oslanburg to be the favourites to win the title, in their best Brigidnan Cup (it was the second final for Oslanburg, after losing the title at home against Valland in 1567).

Oslanburg started controlling the match, and soon theirs were the clearest and main chances. Ostland suffered to defend their goal, only being able to threaten the Oslanburgan team with a few counter-attacks which, in most cases, were easily stopped by the Oslanburgan defense.

The second half started with a similar script, only the match turning more chaotic as minutes advanced. Ostland had their chance on the minute 71, in which Martina Heiz faced the Oslanburgan goalkeeper without opposition, but she failed to find the goal. Still, the Oslanburgan had several good chances the score, but the Ostlander goalkeeper, Louise de Handt, avoided the Oslanburgan to score the predictably decisive goal, ending the first ninety minutes in a 0-0 for first time in the history of the Brigidnan Cup.

In the extra time, Ostland had more chances to score a goal, as Oslanburgan players were probably facing the fatigue after their third extra time in a week. Oslanburgan striker Margarete Rasmussen -who was the top scored of the cup with 5 goals- had the main and last chance, but the Ostland goalkeeper first and the crossbar avoided the goal.

For first time, the Brigidnan Cup title was to be decided in the penalty knockout, and it needed 10 penalty kicks (the 5 ordinary ones, and 5 extra ones) for every team to have a winner. Then, Oslanburgan defender Annette Jensen kicked the ball directly to the grandstand of the stadium. Ostlander midfielder Ernestine Boye didn't miss to give Ostland their second Brigidnan Cup.

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Marcus Gucevicius wins the 1595 Ceribian Tour
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Nueva 26, 1595


Gucevicius took the golden jersey in the stage 15, a 27-km time-trial stage in central Ceribia.


Etora, Ceribia - Marcus Gucevicius (Iskra Team) became the first Mordvanian rider to win the Ceribian Tour, to win his first Grand Tour in his career.

Gucevicius was able to resist in the high mountain stages, proving a constant rider against his main rivals, probably more tired after a demanding Tour de Valland, and consolidated his victory in the two long time-trial stages.

Adwestene champion Eden Grace Weatherhead (Scholden-Gulcron) -who had just won his fifth Tour de Valland months ago- finished second at forty-seven seconds. Weatherhead failed to win the Grand Double (winning the Ceribian Tour and the Tour de Valland the same season) for second time, but set up a new records as it was his 13th Grand Tour podium in his career.

Kyrzbekistani climber Almas Cingur (KyrzAir) -who wore the golden jersey to four days until stage 15- finished third at three minutes and two seconds, making the 8th Grand Tour in a row in which both Cingur and Weatherhead have been in the podium.

Ceribian Mukhran Chavchavadze (Magram) won the Mountain classification, while Florinthian Quentin Symonds (Dido-GDC), who won three individual stages, won the Points classification.

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Jevgenijs Kalnins wins 1596 Tour of West Brigidna
By Pia Chamberlain
Published: Quartyr, 1596


Jevgenijs Kalnins


Aeitinheim, West Brigidna - Jevgenijs Kalnins entered in history after winning the first Tour of West Brigidna.

The 27-year old Videjszeme champion defended his pink jersey in the last ITT against his main rival Gehennan Max Pappenheim (Dido-GDC) who finished second at fifty-seven seconds.

Nentsian Viktar Husevich (Nenergo) ended third at three minutes and thirty-three seconds.

Strathaen climber Tuathal Seòras (United Strathae), who ended sixth, won the Mountain classification, while Florinthian Quentin Symonds (Dido-GDC) won the Points classification along three individual stages.