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Kristian Simonsson wins 1585 Florinthian Open
By Linda Westland
Published: Ochtyr 1585


Kristian Simonsson


Lordsport, Florinthus - Nylander Kristian Simonsson won his first Grand Slam after defeating Strathaen Gallagher Micheil McCullain in five sets (2-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6) in the 1585 Florinthian Open final. While the Nylander was the favourite for the title, he experienced more problems than expected against the 28-year old Strathaen, who has never won an IAT trophy and reached a Grand Slam final for first time.

Besides the title, Simonsson will reenter in the top ten of the IAT Men's Ranking again, reaching the number three in the ranking. He will surely try to repeat this success at home, in the Nylander Open, late this year.

In Women's Singles, Jandrean Lucy Wallace won her second Grand Slam, after defeating Severyan Tasha Ubirikova in three sets (6-3, 4-6, and 6-4). She had previously won the Hylis Open in 1580. Hylian Elma Lundquist will keep leading the IAT Women's Ranking a week more, despite her early defeat in the Round of 32.

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Jonathan Geissler wins 1585 Ceribian Tour
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Nueva 25, 1585


Jonathan Geissler becomes the third Oslanburgan rider to win a Grand Tour


Etora, Ceribia - Oslanburgan climber Jonathan Geissler (ZMG-Nissen) won the 1585 Ceribian Tour, twenty-four seconds ahead of Lomarren Alessio Gagliardi in the general classification.

It was one of the most evenly-matched Ceribian Tours in recent years, with an important number of riders with option to the title -or at least the podium- to the last high mountain stage. That stage was won by 1584 Tour de Valland winner Kelly R. McCullain, who won as consequence the Mountain classification and ended 7th in the general classification, after a disappointing Tour de Valland where the Strathaen climber ended 23th.

Before that stage, from day 14 to 19, the general classification was led by Ceribian Mukhran Chavchavadze (KDK-Magram) but he lost more than four minutes, ending 9th in the general classification. The 23-year old Ceribian, however, gives hopes to the Ceribian fans for the future. The last time a Ceribian rider won the Ceribian Tour was in 1572, when Zurab Avakidze -who was announced that he will retire the next season- defeated Batavian Jonathan de Graaff and won his only Grand Tour.

Jonathan Geissler becomes the second Oslanburgan to win the Ceribian Tour, after Holger Andersen who won it in 1560, 1561, and 1565. It was certainly the year of confirmation for the 25-year Oslanburgan climber, who won this year two individual stages in the Tour de Valland, ending 7th in the general classification while serving as a domestique for Elton Isaksson, who ended second. Geissler also won the Ceribian Tour's Youth classification, becoming the third rider to win the General and Youth classification the same year.

Alessio Gagliardi (BataVelo) becomes the first Lomarren rider to reach the podium of a Grand Tour since 1560. Florinthian Stephen Newgreaves (New Galeae), who won the Ceribian Tour in 1584, was third after a great last week.

Florinthian sprinter Richard Malone (Dido-Dreher), after a disappointing Tour de Valland, showed his best version in the Ceribian Tour once again, winning five individual stages and the Points classification for sixth year in a row. On stage 19th, he won his 36th stage in the Ceribian Tour, a new record.

The last stage was won by Aka Gamkrelidze (Bagdati Team), the only Ceribian to win a stage this Ceribian Tour.

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Esteban Luidrago wins 1585 Nylander Open
By Linda Westland
Published: Elva 1585


Esteban Luidrago


City/Location - Esteban Luidrago becomes the second Sequoian to win the Nylander Open after defeating Mordvanian Vitomir Brezovar in four sets (6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1). After his victory, Luidrago achieves the number one in the IAT Men's ranking, following his countryman Rodrigo Camatte who held the number one for twenty-six weeks between 1570 and 1571.

On Women's singles, the victory was for East Kaljuran Eliisabet Mägi, who becomes the first Kaljuran tennis player to win a Grand Slam title after defeating Hylian Lynne Doane (6-2 and 7-6). After her victory, Mägi climbs to the second place in the Women's Ranking, which is led one week more by Hylian Elma Lundquist.

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Slavoj Savincek wins 1586 Tour de Valland
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Zechyr 26, 1586





Lauren, Valland - Slavoj Savincek won his first Tour de Valland, after a calm final stage in Lauren, which ended with Florinthian sprinter Richard Malone (Dido-Great Life) winning his 30th individual stage in the Tour de Valland.

The 33-year old Mordvanian climber becomes the first Mordvanian rider to win a grand tour. Savincek took the red jersey only after stage 17th, the last high mountain stage, by merely one second ahead of Adwest climber Eden Grace Weatherhead (Tyrus-Empire). Following a turbulent 18th stage, the 19th stage -a 31-km time-trial stage- decided the winner of the Tour, with Savincek increased his advantage to the final twenty-five seconds, the second shortest in the history of the Tour de Valland.

It was a very chatoic and balanced Tour, one could say, with six riders ending the general classification within a difference below the two minutes. Goldecian Dannie Upton Steele (Royal Abbott) ended in the last place in the podium, displacing Eskkyan Pierre Bonchamps (BataVelo). Despite the small differences in the general classification, Weatherhead and Steele seemed quite satisfied to reach the podium this year, which nobody -maybe not even themselves- expected they could be serious candidates. Weatherhead kept the Young classification by merely fifteen seconds over Steele, and many predict this could just the first one in a long rivalry for the next decade as the Adwestene climber and the Goldecian all-rounder -23 and 24 years old, respectively- could be considered two of the most promising riders of their generation after this Tour.

The Mountain classification was won by Amaury Servan (Rolareux-Vançotte), who becomes the first Eskkyan climber in two decades to win the Mountain classification. The Points classification was won by Vallish sprinter Robert Réjane (Rolareux-Vançotte) -the only rider to win three individual stages- winning the Points classification for second time after 1579.

Savincek has confirmed that he will not participate in the Ceribian Tour. It is expected that the Mordvelo team will be led by Joze Prezeren.

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Henri Honnecourt wins 1586 Ceribian Tour
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Nueva 25, 1586


Henri Honnecourt during stage 18th.


Etora, Ceribia - Henri Honnecourt (Télecon Team) won the 1586 Ceribian Tour, entering in the short list of riders who won both the Tour de Valland and the Ceribian Tour at least once. The 33-year Vallish climber, after a disappointing Tour de Valland where the defending winner could only be 18th in the general classification, won the Ceribian Tour after improving Amaury Servan time in more than a minute in the last individual time-trial stage.

Amaury Servan (Rolareux-Vançotte) ended second, thirty-one seconds after Honnecourt, becoming the first Eskkyan rider to reach the podium in the Ceribian Tour. Servan also won the Youth classification, becoming of the most promising Eskkyan riders after finishing 7th in the Tour de Valland this season as well.

Adwestene Eden Grace Weatherhead (Tyrus-Empire), finished third, three minutes and twenty-three seconds after Honnecourt. Weatherhead, who won the Youth classification in the 1586 Tour de Vallad after ending runner-up only twenty-four seconds behid the winner, Mordvanian Slavoj Savincek, becomes the first Adwestene rider to reach the podium of both grand tours in the same season.

Fourth, only eigh seconds from the podium after a great time-trial was Eskkyan Pierre Bonchamps (BataVelo). Bonchamps already ended 4th in the Tour de Valland, in his best season as professional. This may incite a debate about who should be the team leader next season after Lomarren Alessio Gagliardi -who ended second in the 1585 Ceribian Tour- had a rather disappointing season this year.

It was one the least competitive Ceribian Tour in recent years, with up to twelve teams ending with no individual stage win, and no Ceribian rider was able to win a stage (although Nentsian Maksim Chubais gave on stage 5th the only victory for his Ceribian team, Bagdati Cycling). On the other hand, Lentar-RIFF won six individual stages, with three riders winning two stages each - an all-time record. Richard Malone continued to break records in Ceribian Tour winning four stages, although Vallish sprinter Yves Mirabeau (NDM Cycling) was more competitive along the tour and won the Points classification despite only winning one stage.

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FK Mazenskai wins Mordvanian football league for first time
By Milan Barancek
Published: Fein 14, 1587


FK Mazenskai player Matej Korik after scoring the 1-2 against GKS Wojek.


Wojek, Republic of Mordvania - FK Mazenskai became the fifth club to win the Mordvanian Premier League after defeating GKS Wojek on matchday 33, one week before the end of the season. The day before NK Slovograd was able to defeat NK Visnja (0-1) putting pressure on the Mazenskai club, but this only postponed FK Mazenskai to proclaim victory for merely 24 hours.

Avdy Puskar scored the first goal for FK Mazenskai in a penalty kick, but the home team GKS Wojek was able to equalize the match three minutes later (on minute 38), in a goal in which FK Mazenskai goalkeeper Alanas Galauné could have probably done more. The first half ended 1-1, a result which had required FK Mazenskai to win the last match against bottom team Amsberg FC.

GKS Wojek, 9th in the classification before the start of the matchday, is well-known in Mordvania for its young talented players and its possesion football, but the local team -managed this season by Florinthian manager Andrew Higgins- offered resistance during the second half with a defensive but aggressive formation. However, striker Matej Korik was able to score the 1-2 at minute 72 after the ball bounced on his left knee deflected by the GKS Wojek goalkeeper.

Korik was able to score the final 1-3 -his 21th goal this season- shortly before the end of the match in a fast counter-attack. Korik, 26, has completed his best season, after a promising but uneven career prone with injuries. He signed for FK Mazenskai in 1584, playing for NK Dzen on loan for the 1585-1586 season, in which he scored 12 goals.

Although not exactly an underdrog club, FK Mazenskai league title has been described by former manager Eugen Karosas as "a turning point in Mordvanian football history". FK Mazenskai is one of the nine clubs which has been consistently in every Mordvanian Premier League season and permanently on the top 10, but it was rarely a contender against bigger clubs such as NK Slovograd, NK Brezedina, Slovograd 1566, or even ND Seznica. Its the second title for FK Mazenskai since 1579, when FK Mazenskai defeated FK Mestarka in the Republican Cup final.

FK Mazenskai is the most popular in the eastern town of the same name, in which a majority of ethnic Bunesgan live. FK Mazenskai hooligans, known as Riteriai ("the Knights") are well-known for their use of Bunesgan nationalist symbols and slogans (and also violent incidents with fans of other Mordvanian clubs). However, since 1584 the club is owned by Marija Vaznek, an ethnic-Mordvanian billonaire businesswoman whose father was a well-known politician from the Mordvanian Republican Party.

Oslanburgan manager Borge Hedegaard, who was signed by FK Mazenskai after Bojan Pengov -who managed the club from 1582 to 1586 announced he was leaving the club and signing for ND Seznica- was seen as an uninspired choice by some fans as he lacked any experience in Mordvanian football. Hedegaard, however, has become the first foreign manager to win the Mordvanian Premier League since 1577-1578, when Vallish manager Raymond Brandeis won his fourth title for NK Brezedina.

Favourite and more powerful clubs such as NK Slovograd, NK Brezedina, and Slovograd 1566 have all failed to match FK Mazenskai's consistency across the season, despite the Mazenskai club saw considerably reduced its margin over last year's champions NK Slovograd, after FK Mazenskai suffered a number of bad results in recent weeks. Yet Hedegaard's team showed enough psychological strength to win the title, playing pacy, direct, counter-attacking football - not always attractive but effective enough to bring joy to the eastern town.

Hedegaard hopes to becomes the third manager to win the "double championship" (as it is known winning the Mordvanian Premier League and the Republican Cup the same season), as FK Mazenskai will play the Republican Cup final against NK Brezedina in two weeks. The final will be a rematch from the last season, when NK Brezedina defeated FK Mazenskai 1-0. NK Brezedina, which has ended third this season -currently eight points behind FK Mazenskai before the final league match- aims to become the first Mordvanian club to win the Republican Cup for third time in a row.

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Mutara Gasana wins 1587 Tour de Valland
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Zechyr 25, 1587


Mutara Gasana, the winner of the 1587 Tour de Valland


Lauren, Valland - Mutara Gasana won yesterday the 1587 Tour de Valland, becoming the first East Tambossan to win a Grand Tour - and the third Skathian to do so after Nylanders Lasse Mogensen (Ceribian Tour, 1573) and Elton Isaksson (Tour de Valland, 1582 and 1583, and Ceribian Tour, 1578 and 1582), and Batavian Johan Van Engelen (Tour de Valland, 1580).

The Tour was decided in the rather chaotic last three mountain stages, in which Gasana proved the stronger, steady and controlling rider. Before stage 17, it seemed that only the other two podium places were to be decided, but leader Jose Cardoso (MTS-Biassoni), who had been able to strongly dominate the second week of the race, suffered an unexpected physical breakdown during that stage, losing more than 5 minutes.

The East Tambossan champion did not lose his temple during the last mountain stage, which viewed an intense rivalry for the third place in the podium and the Youth classification between Kazemuran Ryouichi Takenaka (Nitenryu Cycling) and Vallish Benoît Montfleury (NDM Cycling), the former won his second stage this Tour, winning therefore the Mountain classification, while Montfleury was able to retain both the Youth classification (becoming the second rider to win it twice, as he did already in 1585, when he finished 6th) and the third place in the general classification, two minutesand seven seconds behid Gasana, and only twelve seconds ahead of the Kazemuran all-rounder.

Mutara Gasana (Dreher-Keszariakom) has achieved the success at the last years of his career, in which he served as domestique for other teammates. After starting his career in Sequoian and Nylander teams, he signed for Mordvanian Mordvelo team in 1578. In 1584, he signed for the Keszariakom team from Keszaria, sharing the leadership of the team with other riders such as Eskkyan Dennis Gonthier and the veteran Mestran champion Stavros Michelakakis. While not entirely a shocking result -Gasana ha proved to be a competent climber during his career, endind seven times in a Grand Tour's top ten, and winning top races such as the Tour of Nentsia, Tour of Svarna Surya, or the Tour of Gaels- not many considered him one favourite to reach the top 3 at the beginning of the Tour.

Alessio Gagliardi (BataVelo) was second, ending one minute and fourty-nine seconds behind Gasana. Gagliardi, 28, becomes the first Lomarren rider to reach the podium in the Tour de Valland. He was previously second in the Ceribian Tour in 1585.

Kubanizan Mykola Tarasenko (Nenergo Cycling) won three mountain stages, a feat which was not achieved in two decades. However, he was unable to be with the best riders in the last week, ending 14th. The Mountain classification was won by Kazemuran Ryouichi Takenaka, who won two of the last three mountain stages, and confirmed to be a rider to follow in the coming future. The only other rider  to win three stages this Tour was Oslanburgan Sven-Ole Wieth (Scholden-Gulcron) who won the Points classification for first time.

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James Trawley signs new contract with NK Brezedina
By Milan Barancek
Published: Septem 4, 1587


James Trawley during a recent match between NK Brezedina and ND Zedvode.


Brezedina, Mordvania - Florinthian manager James Trawley has signed a new contract with Mordvanian club NK Brezedina. Both sides agreed to sign a two-year contract extension until 1589.

Trawley signed for NK Brezedina on late Alvan, after coach Joachym Patek was sacked after game 20 of the Mordvanian Premier League. Patek, who had signed for NK Brezedina earlier the previous Summer after 9 seasons as ND Seznica manager, was fired after only achieving 44 points of 60, third place in the classification but 19 points behid the eventual champion FK Mazenskai.

Trawley replaced Patek, in the first season in Mordvania ever for the Florinthian manager. He improved consistently the results of the team, obtaining 35 points of 42 in his 14 matches as NK Brezedina manager. However, he was criticized by both Brezedina fans and Mordvanian media for its direct and poor style.

He was able to qualify NK Brezedina to the final of the Republican Cup, an annual knockout football competition in Mordvania, second most important football trophy in Mordvania after the Mordvanian Premier League. NK Brezedina, which had previously won it the previous two seasons, face FK Mazenskai which had just won the Mordvanian Premier League barely two weeks before. NK Brezedina defeated FK Mazenskai 2-1, becoming the first club to win the Republican Cup three times in a row.

NK Brezedina, considered one of the top football clubs in Mordvania along NK Slovograd and Slovograd 1566, has faced disappoinment after disappointment in recent years in the domestic league, which won for last time in the 1579-1580 season.

NK Brezedina is expected to invest considerably in the next season. It is rumoured that the club may sign Mordvanian striker Zoran Smolar and Khokharsan central defender Adegoke Akara, who became one of the key players of Mordvanian Premier League champions FK Mazenskai in the last season.

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Grzegorz Sutzkever wins 1587 Ceribian Tour
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Nueva 26, 1587


Grzegorz Sutzkever had no rival in the Ceribian Tour


Etora, Ceribia - Grzegorz Sutzkever (KDK-Magram) won the 1587 Ceribian Tour after a relatively calm final individual time-trial, which was won by Xavier de Molinari (NDM Cycling). Adwestene Hubert Salika (Tyrus-Empire), who also won the last high mountain stage and the Youth classification, improved Sutzkever's time in ten seconds, enough to achieve the second place in the general classification without tension in the last kms.

Oslanburgan Grzegorz Sutzkever, 31, surprised the main favourites with an almost perfect Ceribian Tour. When he became leader of the general classification after the first mountain stage, but he found no serious opposition after Carpathian Cosmin Giurescu, who seemed his main rival at that time, lost more than three minutes on stage 18. Sutzkever was clearly helped by the route of the 1587 Ceribian Tour, the one which largest amount of time-trial kms in three decades, but he showed he had no rival in mountain stage either in the last high mountain stage, when only the young Hubert Salika could follow his path and even causing him problems in the last kms. Sutzkever's second place in the two last high mountain stages, however, was enough to assure the Mountain classification as well.

Sutzkever, an ethnic Abdanian, moved along his family to Oslanburg in 1566, aged 10, escaping for the civil war which broke out in the then Kingdom of Abdania and Mordvania. After starting his professional career in a Galeaen team, he signed for Crédit Blondel in 1577. In 1582, he signed for Luft Wurberg, but failed to find a place in the Oslanburgan team, signing for KDK-Magram from Ceribia in 1586. A competitive rider in time-trial stages, he often showed himself during breakways in high mountain stages, without much success, failing repeatedly to come close to the top ten in Grand Tours, therefore often serving as domestique for other riders. This was the case in the last Tour de Valland, when he served as domestique for his teammate Ceribian Mukhran Chavchavadze. Therefore nobody expected such performance in this Ceribian Tour, and barely nobody considered him a favourite to win the Ceribian Tour. Sutzkever has represented the Oslanburgan national team in the World Championships of 1584 and 1586.

Sutzkever also broke the record of the biggest time difference between the champion and the runner-up, as he ended eight minutes and twenty-two second ahead of Adwestene Hubert Salika. Vallish champion Pierre Signored had held such record since 1528, when he won the Ceribian Tour with a difference of eight minutes and twenty-four seconds.

Vallish climber and 1586 Ceribian Tour winner Henri Honnecourt (Télecon Team) accompanied Sutzkever and Salika in the podium.  Cosmin Giurescu (BataVelo) was close to become the first Carpathian to reach the podium in a Grand Tour, but he fell short of such feat by only six seconds.

In the final sprints,  Druzhberg Cycling proved to be the most competitive team, winning Filip Nauer and Ander Vitecz two stages each. Vienalnder Ander Vitecz won the Points classification with his teammate Filip Nauer and Batavian Frederik de Jong (Lentar-RIFF) coming close one and two points behind, respectively. Richard Malone (Dido-Great Life) won three stages, who won on stage 16 his 74th individual stage in a Grand Tour.

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Jan Daxenberger wins 1588 Tour de Valland
By Richard W. Wallace
Published: Zechyr 23, 1588


Jan Daxenberger during stage 17th.


Lauren, Valland - Jan Daxenberger (NDM Cycling) won the the 1588 Tour de Valland, becoming the fourth Gehennan rider to win the Tour de Valland.

The last 20th stage was calm but with an exciting and accidental finish. The stage was won by Batavian sprinter Frederik de Jong (Lentar-RIFF), who beated Galeaen Bo Moodysson (Helahuvudet Vingard) and Vienlander Ander Vitecz (Druzhberg Cyclig), winning his fifth individual stage this Tour.

Frederik de Jong also won the Points classification, becoming the second Batavian sprinter to do so, after his own teammate Immanuel Botha, who won it in 1580. After a first week in which Frederik de Jong dominated the final sprint, winning the first three stages, the Points classification had been led since stage 15th by veteran Florinthian sprinter Richard Malone. Malone only needed to finish third to win the Points classification for sixth time. However, a crash in the final metres -in which was also involved Nylander Mikael Eriksson- impeded to do so. Malone, who won three stags this Tour, could finish the race without problems though.

Jan Daxenberger took the lead on the general classification already on the second high mountain stage, on stage 9th, and thankful to a steady performance on high mountain and increasing differences in the two individual time-trial stages, he could keep a relatively safe distance from his main rivals, Florinthian Stephen Newgreaves and the 1586 Tour de Valland champion, East Tambossan Mutara Gasana. In the last high mountain stages, Daxenberger just limited to control Gasana, in a more defensive approach which didn't impede him to win the Mountain classification along the General classification.

Mutara Gasana (Anzcell Cycling) was second, three minutes and twenty-nine seconds behind Daxenberger, while Jose Cardoso (MTS-Biassoni) ended third after a great performance in the last two high mountain stages. Goldecian Inderjeet Sessions (Ogo Cycling) was not able to keep the third place on the podium, after losing five minutes to Cardoso. However, Sessions was able to win the Youth classification for first and only time.