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Achaia Halkias wins her second Tour of Pythos
By Marina Monroe
Published: Septem 25, 1579


Halkias became the first rider to win the Tour of Pythos twice


Tyros, Pythos - Achaia Halkias (Wyvern-Kyksos) became the first cyclist to win twice the Tour of Pythos.
The 32-year old climber achieved the general classification leadership only in the last high mountain stage in a dramatic climb. Her main rivals, Keszarian Margit Örkény (Irtek-Terkem) and Sainamese Hitomi Mihara (Nitenryu Cycling) were already out for the fight for the podium, losing three and five minutes respectively, but Halkias could not follow herself the pace imposed by climbers like Liza Roze (Mtkvuri-TSC) and Medea Marjanishvili (Cercell Cycling), and ended losing two minutes from the main group. Iphigénie Morisot (Spa-Soleil), last year Tour of Pythos winner, won the stage, her first one in the Grand Tour. It was a disappointed Tour for the Vallish champion, who can only end 20th in the general classification.

Halkias was able to keep a comfortable distance between her and the main group during most of the climb, but she suffered a crisis in the last kms which increased her lose with Liza Roze to two minutes and twenty-four seconds. Only fourteen seconds separated Liza Roze to the Tour victory, but Halkias showed her great resistance again to enter in the history of Tour of Pythos. It is not an unprecedented situation for Halkias, as she already won her first Tour, in 1574, by merely seven seconds against another Mtkvuri-TSC rider, the Ceribian Natela Abuladze, now retired.

Hôinômese climber and 1573 Tour of Pythos champion Thao Thu Mai (Duong-Lozhë) completed the podium along Halkias and Roze, leaving Örkény outside the podium after being led the general classification during most of the last week.

The mountain classification was won by Ceribian Medea Marjanishvili (Cercell Cycling) who ended fifth, three minutes and fourteen seconds behind Halkias.

The best sprinter was, again, the Oslanburgan Nikoline Schou (Gulcron Cycling) who won four stages and winning the Points classification for second season in a row (third for Gulcron Cycling after Khiblander Kathë Mercadante won in 1577). Pythian sprinter Tryphosa Papalia (Elite Leptos), meanwhile, became the first rider to win 11 stages in the Tour of Pythos, after winning two stages.

Goldecian team Ogo Cycling won the Team classification for second time in a row.