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Kieran McLucais wins 1579 Tour de Valland
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Zechyr 25, 1579


Strathaen climber Kieran Tiarnán McLucais


Lauren, Valland - Kieran Tiarnán McLucais (United Strathae) became the first Strathaen cyclist to win the Tour de Valland. Although this season was expected to be a fight between Mestran Stavros Michelakakis and Nylander Elton Isaksson -1578 winners of Tour de Valland and Ceribian Tour, respectively-, McLucais proved to be the stronger climber during the last week of the race.

Only Pythian Astylos Fyssas (Evgem-Vertigo) seemed to be a rival for the Strathaen climber. Since stage 15, the fight for the title was reduced in a battle between the two climbers. Their attacks came after another that high mountain stage, and only a few riders -including the inconsistent Batavian climber Johan Van Engelen (BataVelo)- were able to follow their path. On stage 17, however, both riders paid their efforts of previous days, losing McLucais and Fyssas that day three and four minutes respectively. It was an illusion, however, and they showed being the stronger riders on stage 18 -easily controlled by the United Strathaen team. The last high mountain stage, won by Van Engelen, was expected to be another battle between the two climbers but it had not much story. Fyssas could not follow the pace of the main group, and ending losing three minutes that day, although his second position in the general classification was safe enough. Fyssas, who already was runners-up in 1576, would end four minutes and twenty-five seconds behind the Strathaen champion.

Although he was not certainly unknown in the peloton -after winning six high mountain stages in the Tour from 1572 to 1578- the 33-year old Strathaen climber was expected to play a secondary role in the fight for the general classification. McLucais proved to be an excellent and explosive climber, but highly inconsistent, being able to be stronger climber one day and lost a half-dozen minutes the next day, along poor perfomances in long time-trials. However, he seems to have improved in both aspects, riding more conservative and intelligently, supported by his teammates Kelly McCullain -winner of the second-to-last high mountain stage- and Keane MacPhàil, both two top climbers.

Only a month ago, most journalists would have only predicted him as candidate to an individual stage win, the mountain classification, and maybe a honorary position in the podium, and his astounding victory has been received with divided opinions by the local Vallish media. While some praised his contant dedication and combative style on the high mountain, other expressed their surprise on McLucais winning transformation this Tour. It must be reminded that United Strathae cycling team is sponsored by the Strathaen government, as it is Women's Strathae, which rider Éabha Campbell tested positive for testosterone only a year after winning the female Tour of Pythos.

Last year Tour de Valland champion Stavros Michelakakis (MTS Team) failed to win his third Tour after a disappointing second and third week, but the 31-year old climber was able at least to secure the third position in the podium.

Michelakakis has confirmed he will participate in the Ceribian Tour, which is expected to have a great participation this years, as many Grand Tour contenders will try to save the season after a disappointing Tour de Valland. Between them, the Nylander all-rounder Elton Isaksson who after a bad first week and many days of suffering in the high mountain ended in a poor 30th place. McLucais has confirmed he will be in Ceribia as well, although rather to prepare the World Championship, to be hosted in Hôinôm this year, with a track more friendly to climbers than previous seasons.

The 37-year old Vallish sprinter Philippe Peaugeot (Crédit Bondel) hoped to become in the first rider to win the Points classification for fifth time and fourth in a row, but he seemed to lose the explosiveness of previous seasons. It was instead the Lentar-Swift sprinters Pieter Steyn and Immanuel Botha who dominated the first week of the Tour, winning three and two individual stages respectively. But the local sprinter Robert Réjane (Rolareux-Printemps) proved to be the most constant for the fight of the green maillot, winning the Points classification in a relatively comfortable way. Réjane won also two individual stages, as the Mordvanian sprinters Elmar Nurksë (Volodnya) and Samo Mahnik (Mordvelo) did as well.

The Mountain classification was won by the Sequoian climber Christophe Malletze (Le Cycle Super) who finished 4th and also won a high mountain stage. Malletze already won the Ceribian Tour mountain classification in 1576, becoming the first Skathian cyclist to win the mountain classification in both Grand Tours.

The Team classification was won by Evgem-Vertigo, the fifth in a decade by a Pythian team.