1596 Tour de Valland

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1596 Tour de Valland

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Stage 1 - Teenfjord to Siljean | Flat stage - 213 km

The first stage of the 1596 Tour de Valland ended with a predictable result: a mass sprint. Ostlander Johannes Rapp (Scholden-Gulcron) defeated Vallish sprinter Antoine Duchesnay (NDM Cycling) and Mordvanian Miroslav Gradishar (Iskra) to win the stage and become the first leader of the Tour de Valland.

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Stage 2 - Siljean to Baardsen | Hilly - 156 km

While the third shortest stage in this Tour de Valland -excluding the three time-trial stages-, the second stage was impossible control, with Nenergo, BataVelo, Abbott, and MTS-Biassoni as the most active teams.

The peloton was reduced in the last kilometres to a main group of 28 riders. Following an attack by Vasili Sokolov (MTS-Biassoni) and Zdenek Hrovat (Nenergo) in the last hill, the group was reduce to eigh riders. Only Mandevine rider Max Rémy (Abbot Cycling) was able to follow the last attack, merely 800 metres before the finish, by Ceribian Zurab Dvali (Bagdati). Rémy defeated the Ceribian rider in the final metres to win the stage and become the new leader of the general classification.

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Stage 3 - Maço | TTT - 25 km

The 1596 Tour de Valland entered in Vallish soil with a 25-km team time-trial. The stage was won by Mordvelo team, which defeated KyrzAir and Dido-GDC teams by four and six seconds, respectively. The losers of the day were teams such as Abbott Cycling, United Strathae, Magram, or Télecon teams, which lost more than forty seconds. Certainly not a decisive loss with still all the mountain stages and two individual time-trial stages to come, but important regarding the general classification.

Ceribia Zurab Dvali was the new leader of the general classification, with Svarnan Hira Sabanis (Baagh Cycling) coming second only one second behind.

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Stage 4 - Romilly to Bourreau | Flat stage - 229 km

The fourth stage, the longest stage this Tour, was expected to be a stage ideal for ending in a mass sprint. However, the lack of cooperation between the main involved teams, or at least their failure to do so effectively earlier, helped the final breakaway to make it.

The large breakaway, which was reduced to 14 riders in the last kilometres, was not decided until the last kilometres. Max Pappenheim (Dido-GDC) attacked and only Matthias Moreng (Luft Wurberg) was able to follow his wheel. Moreng would soon left behind the Gehenna rider to win his first individual stage (the first cycling elite victory for the 27-year old rider). Johannes Rapp (Scholden-Gulcron) finished third, coming along a group of other six riders, and therefore consolidating his lead in the points classification.

Hira Sabanis (Baagh Cycling) was the new leader of the general classification, fifteen seconds ahead of Max Pappenheim.

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[Hadash]

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Stage 5 - Sephoraville to Leroux | Flat stage - 177 km

The peloton found some calm the next day. The breakways were not successful this time, and the stage ended in a mass sprint.

Nylander sprinter Chester Stenbeck (Anzcell Cycling) defeated Mordvanian Rein Warma (Iskra) and Vallish Antoine Duchesnay (NDM Cycling) to win the stage and take the point classification jersey as well.

Svarnan Hira Sabanis (Baagh Cycling) continued as leader of the general classification without incidences.

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Stage 6 - Leroux to Voclaîn | Flat stage - 206 km

The next stage followed a very similar script, one day before the first mountain stage in this Tour de Valland.

The young Vallish sprinter Christophe Villiers gave the first local stage win, and the second for Anzcell Cycling, after defeating Sequoian Martin de Gasparette (Le Cycle Super) in a close sprint. Keszarian Kárdas Nyíregyházi (NDM Cycling) and Ceribian Sergo Gvarjaladze (Bagdati) were third and fourth, respectively.

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Stage  7 - Leroy to Mount Barre | Mountain stage - 195 km

Baagh Cycling did show much interest -or confidence- to keep the red jersey. Instead, several of their riders tried to join the early breakaway. In any case, Hira Sabanis, who had led the general classification for three days -becoming the first Svarnan rider to officially do so- lost any chances to keep it a fourth day as he lost contact of the main group before the last climb.

United Strathae and Mordvelo, with eventual cooperation from Télecon team, worked hard to end the changes of a successful breakaway. However, at the first kilometres at Mount Barre, the last climb of the day, Nylander Zachariah Nordfeldt (Vançotte) surprised with a solitary attack. He did not find much opposition.

Several kilometres, later Dyrheimer climber Roman Herzogenrath (Télecon) attacked the main group, which was then reduced to eleven riders, with the champion and runner-up of the previous seasons -Adwestene Eden Weatherhead and Kyrzbekistani Almas Cingur- surprisingly struggling to keep the pace imposed by Mordvanian Walentyn Lauterpacht (Mordvelo).

Herzogenrath successfully reached Nordfeldt, and easily win the stage against the visibly fatigated Nylander rider. As a consequence, he took the mountain jersey as well.

Thirty seconds later, Batavian rider Jaap Frisch (BataVelo) came third, followed by Mordvanian Zeljko Bratansek (Mordvelo). Mordvanians Marcus Gucevicius (Iskra) and Walentyn Lauterpacht (Mordvelo), Strathaen Sechnall MacCeallaig (United Strathae) and Ceribian Pharnavaz Undiladze (Bagdati) arrived ten seconds later.

Gehennan Max Pappenheim (Dido-GDC) arrived fifty-six seconds after Herzogenrath, enough to become the new leader of the general classification. Herzogenrath climbed to the second position, only thirty-four seconds behind Pappenheim. Zachariah Nordfeldt was third, at one minute and thirty-four seconds, wtih Mordvanian Zeljko Bratansek at one minute and thirty-seven seconds. Batavian Jaap Frisch completed the top-5, at nearby two minutes behind Herzogenrath.

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Stage 8 - Chevrolet to La Pointe | Mountain stage - 169 km

Max Pappenheim, the new red jersey, found himself along in the next stage. At first, Télecon took the responsability to avoid any breakaway during the first 80 kms, but it was later Mordvelo team, along some cooperation from Magram Team, who took the lead of the main group.

Roman Herzogenroth certainly paid the effort of the exhibition of the previous day, and he was unable to follow the main group. Soon, at the beginning of the last climb, the main group was reduced to eight riders: Nylander Blaise Brunschvicq (Télecon), Ceribian Pharnavaz Undiladze (Bagdati), Keszarian Adam Sandor (Magram), Strathaen Tuathal Seoras (United Strathae), Mordvanians Zeljko Bratansek, Walentyn Lauterpacht, and Maksymilian Zakrzewsky (Mordvelo), and Nentsian Viktar Husevich (Nenergo).

Shortly before the last riders from the breakaway were about to be caught, Bratansek attacked, eight kilometres before the finish, without finding opposition. The last kilometres proved fatal for Pappenheim, who would have lost six minutes and therefore much of his chances for the Tour.

Bratansek won the stage to take both the mountain and the general classification jersey. Ceribian Pharnavaz Undiladze (Bagdati), who arrived almost a minute behind Bratansek, was second in the general classification, at two minutes and twenty-eight seconds. Undiladze, in his second Tour de Valland, also had now a comfortable lead on the Young classification.

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Stage 9 - Les Desjardins to Saint-Bellerose-des-Bois | Flat stage - 197 km

After the first rest day, the peloton restarted the second week of the race with a predictable stage which ended in a mass sprint.

Julius Magnusson (Anzcell Cycling) defeated Adwestene Kiel Albert Fyfe (Dido-GDC) and Keszarian Kárdas Nyíregyházi (NDM Cycling) to win the stage, the third for the Nylander team.

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Stage 10 - Charbonneau to Mount Saint-Rousseau | ITT - 33 km

The stage 10th, a 33-km individual time-trial was expected to bring changes in the general classification, or at least reduce the differences between climbers and time-trial specialists.

Eskkyan Cóemgein McAlister (Ogo Cycling) won the stage. Nylander Blaise Brunschvicq (Télecon) was one of the best favourites, finishing 7th and reducing his difference with Bratansek -who remained leader of the general classification- to only fifty-four seconds. Ceribian Pharnavaz Undiladze (Bagdati), while falling to the third position, did a better time-trial than expected (or at least better than Bratansek) and reduced his difference to one minute and twelver seconds.

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Stage 11 - Langlois to Beauchêne | Flat stage - 218 km

The next stage, which ended in mass sprint, gave Anzcell Cycling their fourth stage win in the 1596 Tour de Valland -the second for Chester Stenbeck, who also consolidated his lead in the points classification.

Keszarian sprinter Kárdas Nyíregyházi (NDM Cycling) was close again but failed to deliver a victory in the final metres ending second, while Galeaen Melker Rausing (Yetech-Druzhberg) ended third.

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Stage 12 - Beauchêne to Saint-Bonfils | Flat stage - 173 km

Despite attempts at the breakaway, the next stage had a similar end, as it was decided again in a mass sprint. However, the final kilometres were rather chaotic, which impeded Anzcell Cycling riders to properly launch the sprint for their fifth stage win.

The winner of the race was instead Mordvanian sprinter Miroslav Gradishar (Iskra) who defeated in a close sprint to Ceribian Sergo Gvarjaladze (Badgdati) and Florinthian Quentin Symonds (Dido-GDC).

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[Hadash]

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Stage 13 - Saint-Martin to Nantes | Hilly stage - 191 km

The peloton entered in the northern range on the 13th stage, although the stage ended in Nantes, with the exception of a minor hill in the last kilometres, the last 50 kilometres were almost completely flat. However, it was pretty obvious that the stage was going to be as much demanding as an ordinary mountain stage, with several breakaways, and Mordvelo team leading the peloton at a fast speed. Soon, many sprinters, and even some favourite riders, struggled to keep the peloton's pace.

Following the descend of Saint-Pomme, fifty-six kilometres from the finish, the peloton was reduced to thirty-eight riders, surprising many riders. Behind, Télecon, Bagdati and Magram tried to bring the peloton together again, but Mordvelo found cooperation from Dido-GDC and KyrzAir to increase the difference.

In the final hill, Kyrzbekistani Almas Cingur attacked, and only the leader Zeljko Bratansek (Mordvelo) was able to follow him. Cingur would clearly defeat Bratansek in the final metres to win his 7th individual stage in the Tour de Valland since 1584. A consolation for the Kyrzbekistani climber as he failed this season to repeat the success of previous years.

Nine seconds later, Vallish sprinter Antoine Duchesnay (NDM) came third with a small group of nine riders, including Gehennan Max Pappenheim (Dido-GDC), who along Mordvelo team was the favourite who was helped the most by the differences between the groups in which the peloton was divided through the day.

Bratansek saw his lead increased to two minutes ahead of the second rider in the general classification, who was now his own teammate Walentyn Lauterpacht. Max Pappenheim was third at three minutes and two seconds, while Blaise Brunschvicq and Pharnavaz Undiladze fell to the fourth and fifth position, respectively.

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Stage 14 - Aubain to Mount Proulx | Mountain stage - 243 km

The peloton returned to the high mountain with a stage which finished in the mythical Mount Proulx. A large breakaway was formed at the first climb, but Mordvelo worked hard to reduce the differences, or at least avoiding that they went too high.

At the first kilometres at Mount Proulx, the first to attack was Adwestene climber and current champion Eden Grace Weatherhead (Scholden-Gulcron). His attack found no opposition or reaction from Mordvelo team, maybe influenced that at six minutes and forty-six seconds behind Bratansek, he was not seen as a direct threat for now.

However, more attacks came -specially from Jevgenijs Kalnins (Magram) and the young Pharnavaz Undiladze (Bagdati)- and although other favourites such as Pappenheim or Brunschvicq dropped from the main group earlier, Mordvelo started to have more problems to control the race.

In the last five kilometres, already left without teammates, Bratansek started to suffer in the main group, reduced to eight riders, including Undiladze, Kalnins, Eskkyan Amaury Servan, Strathaen Tuathal Seoras (United Strathae), Batavian Jaap Frisch (BataVelo), Goldecian Caleb Foster, and Castlian Jose Cardoso (AHN-Bank of Florinthus).

The distance between Weatherhead, the last two riders from the breakaway, Strathaen Sechnall MacCeallaig (United Strathae) and veteran Oslanburgan champion Jonathan Geissler (Luft Wurberg), and the main group reduced, but a last sprint was enough to assure the Adwestene champion to win the stage. Ten seconds later, after Geissler and MacCeallaig came, Kalnins crossed the finish, and Seoras and Undiladze did sixteen and eighteen seconds later, respectively.

Bratansek crossed the finish one minute and twenty seconds after Weatherhead. Undiladze, who consolidated -if not directly sentenced- his lead in the Youth classification, climbed to the second place in the general classification, at two minutes and thirty-five seconds, while Nylander Zachariah Nordfeldt (Vançotte) was third at three minutes and two seconds.

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Stage 15 - Gosselin to Babineaux | Mountain stage - 168 km

After the second rest day and before the last individual time-trial, another high mountain stage awaited the peloton.

As the stage before, Videjszeme climber Jevgenijs Kalnins (Magram) was the most active rider, and following his last attack from the main group, he won the stage after outplacing Svarnan Amrit Mallaya (Abbott Cycling) and Jose Cardoso (AHN-Bank of Florinthus).

Bratansek lost another minute to Kalnins' group, which included Blaise Brunschvicq and Weatherhead between other riders, but was able to increase his lead over Undiladze, as the young Ceribian climber probably paid the efforts of the day before. Now, Bratansek was three minutes and five seconds ahead of Undiladze in the general classification.

Nylander Zachariah Nordfeldt was third at three minutes and thirty-two seconds, after losing another thirty seconds to Bratansek, although he hoped to reduce such difference in the next day ITT. Weatherhead climbed to the fourth position, at three minutes and forty-seven seconds, while Blaise Blunschvicq (Télecon) was fifth at three minutes and forty-eight seconds.

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Stage 16 - Le Duguy to Tailler | ITT - 32 km

The last individual time-trial was expected to bring changes in the general classification before the last three last high mountain stages, where everything would be decided.

Bratansek, although certainly not a specialist against the clock did better than expected in the stage -which included some minors hills in the first twenty kilometres- and only lost a minute to Weatherhead -who climbed to the second position at two minutes and twenty-seven seconds in the general classification- while barely lost ten seconds against Nylander Zachariah Nordfeldt, who kept the third place by merely eleven seconds. Blaise Blunschvicq climbed to the fourth position in the general classification, while Ceribian climber Pharnavaz Undiladze (Bagdati) lost his provisional place in the podium, as he fell to the sixth position at four minutes and forty-one seconds. Bratansek's teammate Walentyn Lauterpacht climbed to the fifth place.

The stage was won by Strathaen Tighearnán Aidan MacRisnidh (United Strathae) who improved Lomarran Dominic Genosoto (NDM) time by merely four seconds.

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[Hadash]

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Stage 17 - Babineaux to Mount Leblanc | Mountain stage - 173 km

After the last rest day, high mountain stage returned to decide the winner of the 1596 Tour de Valland, with the first of three mountain stages.

There was not movement between the favourites that day until the last climb. Nerysia Jarik Nytar (BataVelo) and Kyrzbekistani champion Almas Cingur (KyrzAir) were the first to attack, later followed by others such as the young Ceribian Pharnavaz Undiladze (Bagdati) and Nylander Zachariah Nordfeldt (Vançotte). Behind, leader Zeljko Bratansek (Mordvelo) tried to reduce the distance with the help of his teammates.

Nordfeldt was able to leave the other riders behind and was close to win the stage, which was won by Adwestene Hubert Salika (Iskra). A group of four riders, including Undiladze, Cingur, Nytar, and Goldecian Jack Marshall (Ogo) came thirty seconds later. Bratansek's group came to the finish a minute and twenty seconds after Nordfeldt, who climbed to the second place in the general classification, at one minute and fifty seconds behind Bratansek. Undiladze climbed to the third place, and pretty much consolidated his lead in the Youth classification.

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Stage 18 - Neauville to Desroches | Mountain stage - 205 km

In the 18th stage, Bratansek had problems to resist the attacks of his main rivals, and he lost another minute to small group that included Undiladze, Weatherhead, Kalnins (Magram), and Marsall. However, as Nordfeldt probably paid the effort of the day before, losing two additional minutes to the Mordvanian climber, his lead in the general classification seemed relatively safe enough. Undiladze was second at two minutes and one second, while Weatherhead recovered a position in the virtual podium at two minutes and fifty-four seconds. Nordfeldt was fourth at three minutes and forty-four seconds, complicating his chances to the top three in Lauren.

The stage was won by Nerysian Wulf Käufer (Luft Wurberg), who proved to the be the strongest rider in the breakaway, defeating Goldecian Caleb Foster in the final metres.

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Stage 19 - La Page to Guémnoz | Mountain stage - 125 km

Bratansek lost time again in the final high mountain stage, but his lead was comfortable enough to win the 1596 Tour de Valland, although not without suffering.

Ceribian Pharnavaz Undiladze (Bagdati), in his second Tour de Valland, would reduce another minute to Bratansek, finishing second at forty-nine seconds.

Eden Grace Weatherhead (Scholden-Gulcron) was this time the most active rider, and was close to win the stage, but his bad first week became a handicap too big for fighting for his sixth Tour de Valland title in the final week. He consolidated however his third place in the podium, finishing at one minute and thirty seconds behind Bratansek.

The stage was won by Ceribian Shalva Jughasvili (Magram).

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Stage 20 - Deschamps to Lauren | Flat stage - 136 km

Vallish sprinter Christophe Villiers (Anzcell Cycling) obtained his second stage win this Tour de Valland in the final stage, the fifth for his team, after defeating Sequoian Martin de Gasparette (Le Cycle Super) and Svarnan Chanda Barigai (Baagh Cycing).

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Tour de Valland 1596 - Final standings