Pip Sports Network

[Hadash]

Pip Sports Network

Jevgenijs Kalins wins 1601 Tour de Valland
By Pia Chamberlain
Published: Zechyr, 1601


The 32-year old climber gave Magram team their first Tour de Valland.


Lauren, Valland - Jevgenijs Kalnins (Magram) became the second rider from Videjszeme to win the Tour de Valland after Pavel Bezbiksis -who had won it in 1577-, after winning the [url=http://board.eternityrpc.com/thread-969-post-7876.html]1601 Tour de Valland[/hr].

Unlike previous seasons, the veteran climber prepared exclusively for the Tour de Valland, as he decided not to participate in the Tour of West Brigidna (which he won in 1596 and 1599). He took the red jersey only in the final high mountain stage, and consolidated it in the decisive ITT the following day.

Kalnins is the sixth rider to win the Tour de Valland in the last six seasons, something that Ceribian climber Pharnavaz Undiladze (Bagdati) was close to avoid -repeating his 1598- as he had more than two minutes ahead on Kalnins in the general classification before the final mountain stage. However, the Ceribian rider could not follow the attacks of his main riders, and lost the red jersey for ten seconds. In the final ITT, Kalnins increased his lead to forty-one seconds. Undiladze repeated the second place as the previous season -his third podium in the last four seasons-, in his probably most bitter defeat in Valland.

Nerysian Godomar Guur (MTS-Biassoni), the last winner of the Tour of West Brigidna earlier this season, finished third at two minutes and forty-two seconds. Although he did not start the Tour in the best way, he considerably improved in the third week, winning one mountain stage, the Mountain classification, and overcaming last season Tour de Valland winner -Soyabarian Ulrick Vandenhof- in the third place at the podium in the final ITT.

Saratovian Péťa Vacek (Soyuz-Kuprin) was one of the surprises of the Tour -as it was their team as a whole, winning one stage and finishing two riders in the top ten in their first Tour-, finishing sixth and winning the Youth classification in his first Tour de Valland.

It was another disappointing Tour for the local riders, with only three individual stages won by Vallish riders -two less than the previous season. However, they may find some hope in the future with Claude Bécaud, as the 23-year old climber finished tenth in his second participation in the Tour de Valland.

Ostander Johannes Rapp (Scholden-Gulcron) won three individual stages and the Points classification.

The 1601 Tour de Valland ended in the traditional final stage in Lauren, which was won by Nylander sprinter Michael Ahlgren (Anzcell Cycling).