In the men's group race of the Belarusian championship, there was a serious struggle for the champion title. But the main participants were the racers of Minsk Cycling Club continental team.
The men's race was the last one in the national championship program. Riders, and there were 48 of them in the start list, had to overcome 169.1 km.
The participants were losing no time and already on the first lap 14 riders, the majority of which were from Minsk Cycling Club, broke away.
Most of all in the peloton, such a breakaway did not like the BelAZ team, which tried to organize the pursuit. However, despite their efforts, the gap not only did not close, but also widened.
Several attacks on the rise noticeably shrink ranks of the breakaway. And in the main group, not everyone kept up the pursuit pace.
As a result, Stanislau Bazhkou, Vasili Strokua and Mark Grinkevich were among the leaders in Raubichi circles. But soon there were only two leaders left - because of problems with the switch, Strokau fell behind.
Meanwhile, Yauhen Sobal and Yauheni Karaliokmoved to the pursuit group, where Branislau Samoilau, Aliaksandr Piasetski, Dzianis Marchuk were riding.
The pursuit group got closer, but with each circle it also became smaller. Sobal and Samoilau were faced with the task of win back 40 seconds in the last five-kilometer lap... But Stanislau Bazhkou really wanted to win that day. And nobody managed to prevent him from doing it.
The beautiful race ended with a beautiful Victoria of Bazhkou. Grinkevich was second, Sobal – the third. Just respect to the team: top 10 of the final protocol consisted only of Minsk Cycling Club racers.
In the standings among men under 23, Mark Grinkevich took the lead, his teammate Dzianis Marchuk took the second place, the representative of the city of Minsk Pavel Turchenko took the third place.
