Riders of Minsk Cycling Club excelled in all classifications at the national championship in the stage race, which was held this year from July 12 to 17 under the banner "Tour of Belarus" with the participation of the national teams of Russia and Uzbekistan.
The Tour opened with prologue time trial in Brest. 9.5 km team race was won by the team of Grodno region, led by representatives of Minsk Cycling Club, the champions of Belarus: Yauheni Karaliok - in the individual race among the elite and Mark Hrynkevich - among the U-23, as well as Aliaksandr Piasetski, the country's champion in the group race, and Mikhail Shemetau, ITT master. Kiryl Kavaliou and Artsiom Lepesha helped them to forge victory. The winners' time was 12:23.7 sec. The average speed – 45.99 km/h.
The second result was shown by the national team of Russia. The third place was taken by the team of Brest region, for which the racers of Minsk Cycling Club Dzianis Mazur, Artur Kiryevich, Yauhen Sobal, Dzianis Marchuk, as well as Aliaksandr Sychuhou and Platon Podzyvalov performed.
According to the results of the prologue, the yellow jersey of the leader came to Karaliok, who did not take it off until the very finish of the race.
The first stage, 155 km long, with start in Brest and finish in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, was won by Minsk racer Stanislau Bazhkou. The company on the podium was made up of his teammates YAuheni Karaliok and Siarhei Shauchenka.
At the second stage, a 40 km ITT along Belovezhskaya Pushcha awaited for the athletes. And there Karaliok confirmed that it was not in vain that he was the champion of the country in this discipline. The winner's time was 49:54.61 seconds. Second place winner Mark Hrynkevich lost over 19 seconds. Bronze medalist Yauhen Sobal finished with a handicap of 1:52.
The third stage of the Tour of Belarus started in Kamenets and ended 202 km later in Slonim. The first at the finish of this impressive distance was the racer of Minsk Cycling Club Vasili Strokau. The second place took his teammate Aliaksei Shnyrko. The third was another representative of the capital squad Dzianis Marchuk.
From Slonim the race moved to Novogrudok. The fourth stage, 175 km long, was won by Anton Popov, a rider of the Russian national team. Yauheni Karaliok was the second, and Danil Evdokimov from Uzbekistan won the bronze medal.
The final fifth stage of the Tour took place in Novogrudok. At the finish of the distance of 130 km, the racer of Minsk Cycling Club Yauhen Sobal was the first. Siarhei Shauchenka (Minsk), Nikita Shulchenko (Russian national team) and Yauheni Karaliok came next. The group finished almost a minute later.
According to the results of all stages, Yauheni Karaliok won a confident victory in the Tour of Belarus. His advantage in the general classification over the nearest pursuer Mark Hrynkevich was more than three minutes. The third place was taken by Vasili Strokau.
There are currently six Minsk Cycling Club riders in the top 10: Yauhen Sobal (4), Stanislaa Bazhkou (5), Branislau Samoilau (6), Dzianis Mazur (7), Dzianis Marchuk (8), Siarhei Shauchenka (10).
Besides, representatives of the capital's cycling club collected all the T-shirts of the Tour of Belarus. Yauheni Karaliok quite predictably became the “Most Stable Racer”. Aliaksei Shnyrko won in the title of the "Most Active Racer". The polka dot T-shirt of the "Mountain King" went to Dzianis Mazur. Mark Hrynkevich became the "Best Young Racer".
TOUR OF BELARUS – FINAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
