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Elton Isaksson wins his second Tour de Valland
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Zechyr 24, 1583


Elton Isaksson during stage 18th.


Lauren, Valland - Nylander Elton Isaksson (ZMG-Nissen) won the 1583 Tour de Valland again, ratifying his excellent 1582 season with a clear victory in Valland. He found in Strathaen climber Kelly R. McCullain his main rival, but he was able to clinch his victory on the 18th and 19th stages, the last high mountain stage and the 44-km final time trial stage, in which Isaksson had the tenth best time. Isaksson also won the Mountain classification for first time.

No rider had won the Tour de Valland in two consecutive seasons since 1570, when Alstarian Han Weltsch won his thrid Tour de Valland (a feat that Isaksson surely will try to repeat in 1584). This Tour is also his fourth Grand Tour win, as he also won the Ceribian Tour in 1578 and 1582. This autumn, Isaksson will probably try something that no other rider has achieved before, winning his fifth grand tour in Ceribia and becoming the first rider to win both Tour de Valland and Ceribian Tour in two seasons in a row.

Sainamese Asai Satoshi (Nitenryu Cycling) ended second, five minutes and thirty-five seconds behind Isaksson. Satoshi, however, failed to be a real threat for Isaksson, either for lack of ambition or lack of stregnth. Kelly R. McCullain (United Strathae) was third, seven minutes behind Isaksson. Cullain, although collapsed in the last high mountain stages, losing more than four minutes to Isaksson, was able to save the third place by merely thirty-nine seconds over 1582 runner-up, Mordvanian Joze Prezeren (Mordvelo).

Prezeren teammate Rajko Kryzanek (Mordvelo) was fifth, winning the Youth classification as well, the third victory in this classification for the Mordvanian team, as Prezeren had won it previously in 1580 and 1582.

Richard Malone (Dido-Dreher) proved to be the faster sprinter of the peloton, at least in Grand Tour. He won five stages and won the Point classification for fourth time, his third time in a row. Only other two riders were able to win two stages this year, Lomarren Francesco Gassendi (NDM Cycling) and Ceribian Aka Gamkrelidze (Bagdati-Team).