Pip Sports Network

[Hadash]

Pip Sports Network

Mordvanian Premier League: Anja Gjurinek becomes first ever female coach
By Milan Barancek
Published: Fein, 1601


Anja Gjurinek could not avoid the 15th loss of NK Mestarka in 27 matches this season


Mestarka, Republic of Mordvania - Anja Gjurinek became the first female manager of the Mordvanian Premier League, the top men's professional football division.

She took charge after northwestern Mordvanian club NK Mestarka announced the departure of Miroslav Lorenc, who had been managing the club since the last season. A humiliating 2-8 defeat at home against Borge Hedegaard's NK Slovograd ended the patience of the owners of the club. NK Mestarka, with only 22 points in 27 matches, was left in a critical situation, as after the win of their rival NK Slawowo away against the other Slovograd club, ND Slovograd, NK Mestarka fell to the 16th place, which would force the club to play a playoff round to avoid relegation to Mordvanian second division. The 2-8 defeat was also the largest win away in the history of the Mordvanian Premier League, along the last season Slovograd 1566 win over NK Krasnevje by same result.

NK Mestarka is considered a rather modest club, the second club in the city after the more successful FK Mestarka, but one regular club in Mordvanian football, as the club only missed four seasons in the Mordvanian Premier League since it was formed in 1568.

In her first match as coach, Anja Gjurinek's NK Mestarka improved the image of the team but couldn't avoid to lose another match -the seventh in a row- against FK Mazenskai. Both teams have several chances to score, but the match was not decided until FK Mazensaki's Matej Bodman scored the final 1-0 in the 67 minute.

Anja Gjurinek introduced several changes from last match, although there was not much a change in tactics compared to Miroslav Lorenc's recent matches.

Anja Gjurinek is not new in the club, however, as she was hired as assistant coach under Miroslav Lorenc this season. Before that, she was managing the Mordvanian women's football team from 1596 to 1599. She started her manager career as coach for Olimpija Prindz women's club, winning first league title for Olimpija Prindz in ten years in the 1595-1596 season.

Anja Gjurinek is expected to continue as coach in the next match this weekend, in which NK Mestarka will face GKS Wojek at home. However, she is expected to be replace afterwards, while NK Mestarka negotiates with more experience managers for the last six matches of the seasons, in which NK Mestarka will try to avoid a relegation to Mordvania's First Division. Mordvanian managers Bostjan Fuisz, Cvetko Jansa, and Jacek Kasparek have been rumoured as new NK Mestarka managers.

Gjurinek, however, says that she is not concerned about replaced next week, or about who will replace her. "That's not in my mind right now", she declared. "We are preparing this weekend match, and that's all what's in our minds. We need to take the match against [GKS] Wojek as a final, that's all. I'm convinced that they only need a win to start changing the current situation. I'm focused that this change starts this weekend, independently who's in charge the rest of the season", she added.

[Hadash]

Pip Sports Network

Jevgenijs Kalins wins 1601 Tour de Valland
By Pia Chamberlain
Published: Zechyr, 1601


The 32-year old climber gave Magram team their first Tour de Valland.


Lauren, Valland - Jevgenijs Kalnins (Magram) became the second rider from Videjszeme to win the Tour de Valland after Pavel Bezbiksis -who had won it in 1577-, after winning the [url=http://board.eternityrpc.com/thread-969-post-7876.html]1601 Tour de Valland[/hr].

Unlike previous seasons, the veteran climber prepared exclusively for the Tour de Valland, as he decided not to participate in the Tour of West Brigidna (which he won in 1596 and 1599). He took the red jersey only in the final high mountain stage, and consolidated it in the decisive ITT the following day.

Kalnins is the sixth rider to win the Tour de Valland in the last six seasons, something that Ceribian climber Pharnavaz Undiladze (Bagdati) was close to avoid -repeating his 1598- as he had more than two minutes ahead on Kalnins in the general classification before the final mountain stage. However, the Ceribian rider could not follow the attacks of his main riders, and lost the red jersey for ten seconds. In the final ITT, Kalnins increased his lead to forty-one seconds. Undiladze repeated the second place as the previous season -his third podium in the last four seasons-, in his probably most bitter defeat in Valland.

Nerysian Godomar Guur (MTS-Biassoni), the last winner of the Tour of West Brigidna earlier this season, finished third at two minutes and forty-two seconds. Although he did not start the Tour in the best way, he considerably improved in the third week, winning one mountain stage, the Mountain classification, and overcaming last season Tour de Valland winner -Soyabarian Ulrick Vandenhof- in the third place at the podium in the final ITT.

Saratovian Péťa Vacek (Soyuz-Kuprin) was one of the surprises of the Tour -as it was their team as a whole, winning one stage and finishing two riders in the top ten in their first Tour-, finishing sixth and winning the Youth classification in his first Tour de Valland.

It was another disappointing Tour for the local riders, with only three individual stages won by Vallish riders -two less than the previous season. However, they may find some hope in the future with Claude Bécaud, as the 23-year old climber finished tenth in his second participation in the Tour de Valland.

Ostander Johannes Rapp (Scholden-Gulcron) won three individual stages and the Points classification.

The 1601 Tour de Valland ended in the traditional final stage in Lauren, which was won by Nylander sprinter Michael Ahlgren (Anzcell Cycling).

[Hadash]

Pip Sports Network

Jevgenijs Kalins wins 1601 Ceribian Tour
By Pia Chamberlain
Published: Nueva, 1601


Jevgenijs Kalnins won his first Ceribian Tour.


Etora, Ceribia - Jevgenijs Kalnins (Magram) won the 1601 Ceribian Tour, in his best season, after winning the Tour de Valland earlier this season.

Kalnins did not find a rival to win the Ceribian Tour, in which he became the last rider to win which was once known as "Grand Double".

Saratovian Marek Maruška (Soyuz-Kuprin) finished third at three-minutes and thirty-one seconds, becoming the first Saratovian to reach the podium in a three-week cycling race.
The 23-year old Saratovian all-rounder also won the Youth classification, and one stage, as well as winning the Tour of Keszaria earlier this season in his only second season as professional cyclist. Maruška, although never a serious threat to Kalnins, consolidated his place in the podium in the ITT stages.

Ceribian Irakli Maisuradze (Magram), while working for Kalnins as domestique, was able to climb to the third place of the podium in the last individual time-trial, in a perfect Tour for the Magram team in their most successful season.

Max Rémy (Ogo-Abbott) finished fourth -only eighteen seconds behind Maisuradze-, in a Tour which went from more to less, specially in the third week, for the Mandavinian rider. His teammate Jack Marshall won two stages and the Mountain classification.

Lomarran Cesar Spinoza (Vançotte) was the best rider in the mass sprint, winning four stages and the Points classification.

[Hadash]

Pip Sports Network

Adwestene champion Eden Weatherhead announces his retirement
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Dein, 1601


Will Weatherhead find a successor?


Herlev, Oslanburg - Eden Grace Weatherhead announced today that he will retire at the end of the season.

The Adwestene champion will end a 28-year career in professional cycling in the next World Champinoship in Nantes, Valland.

Although he had another year contract with Oslanburgan team Scholden-Gulcron, the team confirmed that both sides reached an agreement to terminate their contract. Weatherhead signed up for Scholden-Gulcron team in 1595, season in which Weatherhead won his 5th Tour de Valland (the second Tour de Valland title for the Oslanburgan in 18 years). Before joining Scholden-Gulcron, he run for Adwestene Tyrus-Empire team, in which he started his professional career and in which he won most of his victories. In a statement released shorty after Weatherhead press conference, Scholden-Gulcron expressed the gratitude to Weatherhead for his "successes, attitude, and professionalism" in the Oslanburgan squad.

Weatherhead declared that he took the decision to leave professional cycling in the last Tour de Valland, in which he finished 33th in the general classification. Although he was close to win the 12th stage, a high mountain stage between Leroux and Mont-Poivre, and was active in the last week assisting Scholden-Gulcron leader, Soyabarian Ulrick Vandenhof (who finished fourth in the general classification). After the Tour de Valland, he took a rest, only participating in the Denil Classic (which he did not finish) before the Ceribian Tour, in which he finished 11th, more than ten minutes behind Jevgenij Kalnins. "I felt I have not much to give to this sport, which has given me so much. It was time to put a foot on the road", he declared.

The 38-year old Adwestene rider is considered the most successful Grand Tour rider in the history of modern cycling, and his success are not likely to be repeated for a while. The first (and only so far) cyclist to win the Tour de Valland five times (1590, 1591, 1592, 1593, 1595) he also won twice the Ceribian Tour (1593, 1594), and the Tour of West Brigidna (1597, 1598), as well as finishing 10 times in the podium in the Tour de Valland, and winning six stages.

His rivalry with Kyrzbekistani climber Almas Cingur, who retired last season, will be probably be remembered as iconic for decades, with Weatherhead winning 7 Grand Tours between 1590 and 1595, with Almas Cingur 3 Grand Tours, comparable to those of Jean-Claude Molineaux and Pierre Signoret in the 1920s and 1930s, or Vallish Jean-Jacques Debussy with Oslanburgan Holger Andersen in the 1560s.

Besides his success in Grand Tours, he also won in his cycling career top races such as the Lauren-Arseille (1589, 1590, 1595), the Mordvanian Week (1594, 1596, 1598), the Leroux Classic (1588), the Criterium of Ventmont (1590), the Tour of Keszaria (1586, 1594), the Tour of Nentsia (1586), and the Tour of Florinthus (1593, 1594), becoming the only rider to have won both the Tour of Florinthus and the Tour of West Brigidna. Last season, he surprisingly finished third in the individual time-trial race in the World Championship in Jekabpils, winning his first World Championships medal at the age of 37 years old.

Although celebrated as the one of the most successful sportmen in the history of Adwestene, there is concern in the Kvaennan country about the lack of youth talent in the last seasons. Douglas Painswick (Luxomatic Team), who was a Weatherhead's teammate in Tyrus-Empire from 1592 to 1594, feels that such concern is exaggerated. "As we grew up watching the victories of riders such as [Harold] Walstrom, Barcol de Meisen or [Marc] Menethil, and they did the same Oswald Martin Winscar, and so on, new talents will certainly arrive", although Painswick conceded that the lack of an Adwestene professional cycling team in the Global Tour after the disappearance of Tyrus-Empire can be a problem. "Nobody can expect of the youth to do the same than Eden [Weatherhead] has done, because probably nobody will be able to repeat that, but I have confidence in the new generations".

[Hadash]

Pip Sports Network

Pharnavaz Undiladze wins 1602 Tour of West Brigidna
By Pia Chamberlain
Published: Quartyr, 1601


Undiladze won stages 7 and 15


Lordsport, Florinthus - Ceribian climber Pharnavaz Undiladze (Bagdati) won the 1602 Tour of West Brigidna.

Undiladze proved to be one of the best climbers of his generation. He previously won the Ceribian Tour in 1596 and the Tour of Valland in 1598. Pharnavaz Undiladze will try to become the first rider to win both the Tour of West Brigidna and the Tour of Valland in the same season, after ending second in the Tour de Valland in the last two seasons.

Kyrzbekistani Anvar Lenarur (KyrzAir) finished second in the general classification, at one minute and twenty-one seconds behind the Ceribian champion. He also won the Youth classification.

Soyabarian Ulrick Vandenhof (Scholden-Gulcron), who was Undiladze's main rival during the last two weeks of the race, finishing third at one minute and forty-nine seconds, after losing the second place in the podium to the Kyrzbek rider in the final time-trial stage.

Lomarren Tomasso Zavala (Velomax) finished fourth at five minutes and two seconds. He also won two stages and the Mountain classification.

Oslanburgan Osvald Jokumsen (Luft Wurberg) was the other rider to win two individual stages, also winning the Points classification.

[Hadash]

Pip Sports Network

Roman Herzogenrath wins 1602 Tour de Valland
By Pia Chamberlain
Published: Zechyr, 1602


The Dyrheimer champion won his second Tour de Valland


Lauren, Valland - Roman Herzogenrath won his second Tour de Valland, becoming the first rider to repeat victory in Lauren since 1595, when Adwestene when his fifth (and last) Tour de Valland.

The Dyrheimer climber proved to be the most consistent rider through the race. He only found a rival in the last week in Lomarran Tomasso Zavala (Velomax), who finished second at only seventeen second, the second shortest difference in the history of the Tour de Valland.

It was the third Tour de Valland for the Télecon Team (Herzogenrath won already in 1599, and Soyabarian Ulrick Vandenhof in 1600).

Claude Bécaud (Vançotte) was third, at three minutes and forty-eight seconds, also winning the Youth classification. The 24-year old climber has certainly given hope to the Vallish fans for the next seasons, the last of the young Vallish promises. The Mountain classification went to Tomasso Zavala, who proved to be the strongest climber in the last week, but it was not enough to defeat Herzogenrath.

The veteran Vallish sprinter Antoine Duchesnay (NDM) won the Points classification for third time. He also won four stages, winning in Lauren his 25th Tour de Valland individual stage.

[Hadash]

Pip Sports Network

Damir Zagipur wins 1602 Ceribian Tour
By Pia Chamberlain
Published: Nueva, 1601


Damir Zagipur took the golden jersey after winning stage 12th.


City/Location - Damir Zagipur (KyrzAir) won his first Grand Tour, becoming the second Kyrzbekistani rider to win the Ceribian Tour.

The Kyrzbekistani climber could comfortably defense the golden jersey in the last individual time-trial in Etora, despise losing time against most of his immediate rivals. He also won two stages and the Mountain classification.

Claude Bécaud (Vançotte) was second at forty-nine seconds. The Vallish climber consolidated in the elite, after finishing third in the last Tour de Valland, as well as winning the Vuelta a Castleon and the Nord-Ouest Classic. Along Zagipur, Bécaud was the most active climber in the high mountain. The 24-year old climber has become the most inspiring promise -already a reality- for the Vallish fans, who have not witnessed a Vallish rider winning the Tour de Valland since 1585, when Henri Honnecourt surprisingly defeated favourites Nylander Elton Isaksson and Mestran Stavros Michelalakis.

Lomarren Tomasso Zavala (Velomax) finished third at two minutes and fifty-six seconds. He wore the golden jersey from seventh stage, the first high mountain stage, to stage 12th, being able to recover in the last week, defending his position in the podium by merely seconds ahead of Gehennan Max Pappenheim who finished fourth.

Christophe Villiers (Anzcell) won the Point classification, winning three stages as well.

[Hadash]

Pip Sports Network

Munderic Aidas wins 1603 Tour of West Brigidna
By Pia Chamberlain
Published: Quartyr, 1603


Aidas, during the 11th stage.


Lordsport, Florinthus - Nerysian Munderic Aidas (Nenergo Cycling) won the 8th Tour of West Brigidna. The 33-year old Nerysian climber becomes the second Nerysian rider to win the in West Brigidna after Godomar Guur -who won in 1601- and his second Grand Tour, as he won the Ceribian Tour in 1599.

Lomarran climber Tomasso Zavala (Velomax Team) was Aidas main rival in the high mountain, finishing second at forty-six seconds, and winning two stages, as well as the Mountain classification.

Oslanburgan Kjeld Povlsen (Luft Wurberg) was third at two minutes and eleven seconds, becoming the first West Brigidnan to reach the podium at home.

Goldecian Adi Shulman (Ogo-Abbott) won the Points classification, winning three stages after surprising more veteran sprinters.