The final stage of the largest cycling international race –
the Baltic Chain Tour Via Baltica – has started today in Riga, Latvia. After prologue and two races leading ahead is Latvian Rietumu-Delfin, which for many years has been supported by Rietumu.
This year over 100 racers, 18 teams and 11 countries including Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Poland, Hong-Kong, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Belgium as well as national cycling teams of Russia and Belarus, participate in the race.
After prologue and the second race, which finished in Siauliai, Lithuania on 18 August, the Latvian Rietumu-Delfin is leading ahead, having won in various categories. Indulis Bekmanis has secured the first place in the second race and received not only a yellow jersey but also the white jersey as the best young rider.
Another participant of Rietumu-Delfin Armand Becis has secured the green jersey as the most active racer, whilst his team fellow Andris Smirnovs won Mountain jersey as the “King of the Mountain”.
“I don’t know a unique success recipe; simply the stars were in a favourable position. But talking seriously, certainly it’s not enough. I have felt a strong support from my team fellows, and even the help of the racer from the competing team Alfa-Baltic. For all of us personal achievements – are not of utmost importance. Our goal is to defend the honour of Latvia in this competition.” says Indulis Bekmanis, current leader of the race.
The coach of Rietumu-Delfin Vitaly Smirnov has highly evaluated Baltic Chain Tour Via Baltica: „We can see the rebirth of the highest-ranking annual cycling tour in the Baltic Sea area. There used to be a time when the best racers and real legends of cycling participated in the Baltic races, and I am extremely glad that such tradition has been restored. Already this year among the participants there are famous cyclists and participants of international races such as Tour de France. For our team, it is a final rehearsal prior to the World Championship, which will commence in a month.”
The
grande finale will take place in Viljandi, Estonia on 20 August, where also the awarding ceremony will be held.
The tradition began in the 1955, when the first cycling race between Latvia and Lithuania took place; later in 1959 the competition was joined by Estonia. Though the joint Baltic cycling tour was broken in 1990s, on November 4, 2010 in Riga, the presidents of three national cycling unions signed a cooperation agreement to restore the tradition of the Baltic cycling tour. Eleonora Gailisha Mass Media and Public Relations
Phone: +371-67020506
Fax: +371-67020563
E-mail:
egailisha@rietumu.lv
