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Eden Grace Weatherhead writes history in the Tour de Valland once again
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Zechyr, 1595


The Adwestene champion took the red jersey after stage 19, in an ITT ended in Amarante


Lauren, Valland - Eden Grace Weatherhead (Scholden-Gulcron) proclaimed winner of the 1595 Tour of Valland, his fifth, overcoming the record of Jacques Gaudin, who won four Tours from 1513 to 1520.

"It is was my hardest victory here", Weatherhead declared about his fifth win in the Tour de Valland", in which he could only take the general classification in the Stage 19th, after the final ITT, by merely thirteen seconds over Kyrzbekistani Almas Cingur (KyrzAir), the second lowest difference between the winner and the runner-up in Tour de Valland's history.

It was certainly a very balanced Tour de Valland again -in the last three Tours, the differences between winner and runner-up were below one minute- but very chaotic, without a clear leader or team able to dominate or control the race. Weatherhead, who will be 34 next season, declares that he will aspire to win the Tour de Valland for a sixth year. He has confirmed that he will participate in this season Ceribian Tour, while he is not likely to participate in the World Championship, which will take place in Tynning, Nyland. Sprinters Varchar Mellent and Kiel Albert Fyfe, who had a brilliant Tour (the former won two stages and the Point classification, while the second won a stage and was close to win the mentioned classification) are expected to lead the Adwestene national team instead.

The incumbent champion, Kyrzbekistani Almas Cingur (KyrzAir) was close to repeat victory, but had to resign himself with his fourth podium in the Tour de Valland. The third place in the podium was for Ceribian Shalva Jughasvili (Magram), in the season of his confirmation, in which he also won an individual stage and the Tour of Florinthus.

One of the surprises was Mandavinian rider Max Rémy (Abbott Cycling), who although was to able to finish in the podium, won comfortably the Youth classification, becoming the first Mandavinian rider to do so. The young Dyrheimer climber, Roman Herzogenroth -despite a disappointing third week- proved to be one the promises for the future, being very active in high mountain during the first two weeks, and winning the Mountain classification.

Adwestene sprinter Varchar Mellent won the last stage in Lauren, defeating his countryman -and former teammate and main rival for the Points classification- Kiel Albert Fyfe. It was the second individual stage win in this Tour for Mellent. Florinthian Quentin Symonds (Dido-GDC) and veteran Oslanburgan champion Sven-Ole Wieth (NDM) were the other two riders to win a stage twice this season. For Wieth, it will likely be his last Tour de Valland as well, as he could retire after the World Championship in Nyland.