A group of Eastern European and Western Asian countries, plus Luxembourg, come together for a cobbled national championship.
8k to go and two groups in contention the front 6 includes three top Estonians in Nommela, Räim, Lauk. The two best Georgians in B. Nareklishvili and Tediashvili plus the best Israeli in Yechezkel. The next 10, 21 seconds back, includes the favorite for the Luxebmourg title, Centrone, plus another strong Estonian in Vahtra. Also in that group are Siddikov and Medvedev who will fight out the Uzbek title.
4k Yechezkel leading the race and looks good for the Israeli title. Nommela went with him for a while but has now been gapped, Lauk and Räim could still catch him as they are in a group 12 seconds behind that includes the two Georgian’s as well. Further back Centrone has Luxembourg locked up and Siddikov has pulled clear of Medvedev in the Uzbek battle.
600 meters, Nommela looks like he will be caught in the sprint, with Räim almost up to him. Lauk and Vahtra still in the picture. Tediashvili ahead of B. Nareklishvili right now. Tediashvili in EKOI colors, Zalgiris 2 being big fans of the French team.
Yechezkel having won the race and the Israeli title, Nommela sprints home in second for the Estonian title, a little upset there. Tediashvili will take 4th in the race and the Georgian title.
Centrone and Siddikov come home a little later to take their respective titles.
Results
1
Aviv Yechezkel (ISR)
Sony - Force India
1h07'41
2
Aksel Nommela (EST)
Moser - Sygic
s.t.
3
Mihkel Räim
Aker - MOT
s.t.
4
Giorgi Tediashvili (GEO)
Zalgiris 2
s.t.
5
Karl Patrick Lauk
Polar
s.t.
6
Beka Nareklishvili
Team Würth MODYF
s.t.
7
Norman Vahtra
DK Zalgiris
s.t.
8
Dilmurdjon Siddikov (UZB)
Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam
s.t.
9
Ivan Centrone (LUX)
Trans Looney Tunes 2
s.t.
10
Steven Kalf
Rabobank
s.t.
11
Giorgi Nareklishvili
Trans Looney Tunes
+ 1'15
12
Sergey Medvedev
Specialized
s.t.
13
Itamar Einhorn
Sauber Petronas Racing
s.t.
14
Kevin Feiereisen
Bralirwa - Cegeka
s.t.
15
Omer Goldstein
Rabobank 2
s.t.
16
Irakli Bablidze
Zalgiris 2
+ 2'15
17
Peeter Tarvis
DK Zalgiris
+ 2'54
18
Sulkhan Akhmaevi
Duvel-Tsingtao
+ 5'01
19
Mats Wenzel
ELCO - ABEA
s.t.
20
Martin Laas
Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh
+ 6'38
21
Roy Goldstein
Tinkoff Team - La Datcha
s.t.
Time Trial
The most interesting battles here are Lauk vs Kalf for the Estonian title and G. Nareklishvili vs. Akhmaevi for the Georgian title.
None of the Estonians are great TT riders so that battle is resolved early with Lauk beating Kalf by 18 seconds.
Soon after Wenzel secures the Luxembourgian title with the best time so far, well ahead of his two competitors. When Wenzel tells his grandkids about this he probably won’t mention that Tom Wirtgen didn’t race.
Akhmaevi finishes on 1’00’35, the new best time but Nareklishvili still on the course.
Siddikov finishes next and sets the new best time securing the Uzbek jersey and completing the double.
Giorgi Nareklishvili is next home, he goes 15 seconds faster. He will be the Georgian champion. Trans adds the Georgian TT title to the Luxembourg road race jersey.
Roy Goldstein goes another 15 seconds faster to win the race and the Israeli title.
