Welcome to the 2013 Belarussian National Championships. Firstly we start off with the road race. Just 11 riders are on the startline to contest the race, which means we could have a surprising winner. The favourites remain Siutsou and Kiryenka though, with the hilly profile. The riders attending are:
As the race begins, quickly Koshevoy and Sakalou go up the road. There is no co-operation behind to give chase, so their gap quickly baloons to over 10 minutes.
Skipping forward to the start of the final lap of the 13 kilometre course, they have amassed a giant 45 minute gap! The others behind remain uninterested in chasing as these two carry on moving towards the finish together. They will fight for the title.
Hitting the final climb, Sakalou launches his sprint first! Fellow attacker Koshevoy fails to respond, despite being the better sprinter of the two.
The Tinkoff rider obviously has better legs, sprinting away from Koshevoy in the final kilometre!
Sakalou takes the Belarussian Title! He got in the decisive morning breakaway and sprinted well to a surprise but deserved victory.
22 seconds later Koshevoy finishes. He couldn't keep up in the final kilometre, so has to settle for 2nd.
Meanwhile, in a dismal showing, all the other riders abandon after giving up with 20 kilometres left due to the large gap. After not giving chase from the start they never really had a chance.
In the ITT, we have the same 11 starting for a 50 kilometre effort against the clock. The big favourite is reigning champion Kiryenka, while Siutsou and Kunitski could also surprise.
Early on we see new road race champion Sakalou out on course. He has no chance here, so can enjoy his day out in the Eastern European sunshine.
Starting last is big favourite Kiryenka. Surely the 2012 champion can't be beaten today, with him being the most reputable time-trialist participating?
Siutsou is the first favourite to set a time. He stops the clock on 1h11'24", which puts him into first provisionally, 7 seconds ahead of prevoius leader Bazkhou. Not a bad effort.
Next in is Kunitski, who you would expect to be setting roundabout the same time as Siutsou. He doesn't have the best of days and can only post a time of 1h11'38", which puts him behind the Pendletons rider by 14 seconds, as well as Bazkhou.
As expected though Kiryenka comprehensively beats all of their times, beating provisional leader Siutsou by 1'15", with a time of 1h10'09"! He retains his National title.
