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Weatherhead wins his second Tour de Valland
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Zechyr 23, 1591


Weatherhead won stage 17, which decided the race


Lauren, Valland - Eden Grace Weatherhead (Tyrus-Empire) won his second Tour de Valland, becoming the first Adwestene rider to win the Tour twice.

Batavian Frederik de Jong (Anzcell-RIFF) showed soon to be the strongest sprinter in the peloton, winning the first three stages. Stage 4, a 26-km individual time-trial, was won by Mordvanian Borislav Rubek (Mordvelo). He would take the general classification jersey, which he will be able to keep until the first high mountain stage, on stage 9.

Stage 5, expected to be a rather calm stage, had a rather tense final as the peloton broke appart, allowing a small group to take a short lead in the final kilometres. The stage was won by Mordvanian Javor Struna (MTS-Biassoni), after defeating in the sprint to 1590 Ceribian Tour winner Romain Poquelin (Télecon Team), Kyrzbekistani Kazbek Noorhamatur (KyrzAir) and Vallish Germain Guimard (Scholden-Gulcron).

The next stage, although a hilly stage which many considered favourable for a breakaway, was decided in a mass sprint. Filip Nauer (Druzhberg Cycling) defeated Mordvanian Miroslav Gradishar (Iskra Team) and Richard Malone (Dido-Great Life) to win the stage. On stage 7, Frederik de Jong would win again after defeating Varchar Mellent (Tyrus-Empire) in a close sprint. On stage 8, Frederik de Jong would win his fifth stage this Tour after easily outpacing Richard Malone and Sven-Ole Wieth (Scholden-Gulcron) in the final metres.

The high mountain arrived on stage 9, which ended in a solitary but long climb. The main group, reduced to thirteen riders, caught the survivors from the breakaway in the final kilometres, and Romain Poquelin (Télecon Team) won the stage without opposition. Mordvanian Marcus Gucevicius (Vançotte Team) was the new leader of the general classification, with a forty-six lead overr Poquelin.

Poquelin, third the previous season and 1590 Ceribian Tour winner, now riding for the powerful Vallish team Télecon, inspired hope after his performance in the previous days. However, he far to keep the pace of the race the next day, being unable to remain in the main group after the first attack by Weatherhead. After a third attack, only Ceribian Tamaz Chkheidze (Bagdati) was able to follow the Adwestene climber. 1588 Tour de Valland winner Jan Daxenberger (Magram) would win the stage, after outpacing the other two remaining riders from the breakaway, Nerysian Wulf Käufer (Luft Wurberg) and Kyrzbekistani Kazbek Noorhamatur (KyrzAir). Weatherhead would cross the finish eleven seconds after Daxenberger. Chkheidze lost twelve seconds to Weatherhead, with allowed him to become leader of the general classification with only nine seconds ahead of Weatherhead. Mordvanian Marcus Gucevicius was third, forty-seven seconds to Chkheidze.

Stage 11 was expected to be a transition stage. However, a windy day created some tension in the last kms, and some of the favourites lost some day as consequence. Between then, Weatherhead, who lost thirty seconds to the main group. Chkheidze lead over the Adwestene champion increased to thirty-nine seconds. The stage was won by Frederik de Jong, who defeated Ander Vitecz and Anders Mikkelsen to win his sixth stage, becoming the third rider to do so.

Stage 12, a flat stage between Tailly and Maphin, ended in a mass sprint as well. The stage was won by Sven-Ole Wieth (Scholden-Gulcron), who defeated Richard Malone and Anders Mikkelsen (Luft Wurberg) to win the stage. Stage 13 resulted a more chaotic stage with similar result, as Sven-Ole Wieth defeated Sav Jacobs (Dido-Great Life) in a reduced main group as the peloton broke apart in the final kilometres. Several of the top riders in the general classification lost considerably time, including Chkheidze and Weatherhead. Mordvanian Marcus Gucevicius, who remained in the main group, retook the general classification jersey as consequence.

Stage 14, a flat stage decided in a mass sprint, brought no important changes in the general classification. The stage was won by Lomarren sprinter Francesco Gassendi (Helahuvudet Vingard), who defeated Ander Vitecz (Druzhberg Cycling) and Frederik de Jong (Anzcell-RIFF) in a close sprint.

The high mountain returned on stage 15, with an exciting stage. Aivars Helmanis (Bagdati) and Wulf Käufer (Luft Wurberg) attacked from afar, while the red jersey Marcus Gucevicius dropped from the main group already before the last climb. Helmanis and Käufer would catch the last rider from the breakaway, Nylander Blaise Brunschvicq (ZMG-Nissen) in the final kilometres. Meanwhile, behind Weatherhead attacked, and only Guimard, Daxenberger, Sequoian Flexor and Montfleury were able to follow him. Käufer won the stage, taking both the general classification and Mountain classification jersey in an almost perfect day. Helmanis was second in the general classification, only six seconds behind Käufer. Vallish all-rounder Germain Guimard (Scholden-Gulcron) was third at twelve seconds and Weatherhead fourth at twenty-three seconds.

Stage 16 was a tough high mountain stage, although with the last climb more than twenty kilometres from the finish, it was not clear if the stage would bring many changes in the general classification. As the last riders from the breakaway were already caught in the final kilometres of the last climb, Nylander Lars Brunewald (NDM Cycling) attacked in the descend, followed by Hubert Salika (Tyrus-Empire). The Adwestene rider would defeat Brunewald on the sprint, although the move was criticized by some, as Weatherhead lost twenty seconds to Käufer in the descend. Weatherhead was second now at forty-seven seconds, while his teammate Hubert Salika was third at two minutes and eighteen seconds.

With only a mountain stage and a long individual time trial left, there was a high expectation for the last mountain stage, as Käufer, with an apparently comfortably forty-seven lead to Weatherhead, was considered a much better time-trialist than the Adwestene climber. There were some doubt about the attitude of Tyrus-Empire that stage, if Weatherhead was willing to risk everything to win his second Tour de Valland, or rather the Adwestene team would have a more cautious tactic in order to assure two riders in the podium. Tyrus-Empire did not wait and stepped up the pace of the main group since the first kilometres on stage 17. Käufer was already dropped when Weatherhead attacked for first time in the last climb. Weatherhead would launch a final attack to catch the remaining rider from the breakaway, Goldecian Daniel Upton Steele (Ogo Cycling) and win the stage. Käufer arrived to the finish almost five minutes later, losing any option for the Tour, although he kept the Mountain classification.

Weatherhead had now a more than comfortable lead before the last ITT, with two-minutes and fifty-five seconds to Kazemuran Ryouichi Takenaka (Le Cycle Super), who showed a great level in the third week of the race. Aivars Helmanis (Bagdati) was third at three minutes and forty-three seconds, and Benôit Montfleury was fourth at three minute and forty-four seconds, although they could only have a small hope for the final time-trial, as Nerysian Wulf Käufer was fifth at four minutes and six seconds, and barely twenty seconds did not look at a safe lead for such a long ITT stage.

After the final rest day, the peloton took it easy on stage 18, which ended in a mass sprint. Oslanburgan Sven-Ole Wieth (Scholden-Gulcron) won his third stage, after defeating Frederik de Jong (Anzcell-RIFF) and Florinthian James McCabe (Dido-Great Life).

Despite his apparently safe lead, Weatherhead had not a relaxed day in the 54-km final individual time-trial stage, as Ryouichi Takenaka (Le Cycle Super) reduced Weatherhead's lead more than two minutes to the final forty-six seconds. The biggest surprise came as Florinthian David Hayward (Télecon Team) climbed from the tenth position to the third place of the podium. Hayward, the fourth fastest rider that stage, improved Weatherhead's time more than four minutes, ending at two minutes and eighteen seconds, only two seconds ahead of Nerysian Wulf Käufer (Luft Wurberg). Helmanis ended fifth at two minutes and twenty-seven seconds, while Germain Guimard (Scholden-Gulcron) was the best Vallish rider in the general classification, at two minutes and forty-one seconds, also winning the Youth classification. Benoît Monfleury had the opposite result than his teammate, dropping from the forth position to the final eleventh place after a terrible time-trial.

Batavian Frederik de Jong (Anzcell-RIFF) won the final stage in Lauren, winning his seventh stage this Tour de Valland - breaking Richard Malone's record, who had won six stages in 1582 and 1584. De Jong also won the Points classification for third time, becoming the third rider to do so.