"Baltic Chain Tour" cycling race kicks off in Latvia, "Energus" with Latvians takes third
The multi-day "Baltic Chain Tour" cycling race began in Riga and other Vidzeme towns, with the "Energus" team, featuring three Latvian riders, taking third in the team time trial while Latvia's National team placed ninth.
On Friday, the UCI category 2 multi-day cycling race "Baltic Chain Tour" began in Riga and several Vidzeme towns. The event takes place in Latvia with support from the Riga City Council, the Ministry of Education and Science, and the Sigulda municipality.
Team time trial at the Biķernieki track
The competition opened with a 5.2-kilometer team time trial at the Biķernieki racetrack, featuring 123 riders from 22 teams. For the second year running, Estonia's National team posted the fastest time, 5:48, edging out four other teams by just one second. Second place went to the Danish team "Reffen Co Go Play Giant Store", while third place went to the Lithuanian team "Energus", which included three Latvian riders — Mārtiņš Pluto, Kārlis Klismets and Olivers Jēkabs Skrapcis — alongside last year's champion Raitis Ārms.
Latvia's National team, made up of Māris Bogdanovičs, Kristiāns Belohvoščiks, Mārtiņš Purbērziņš, Ģirts Harkins, Markuss Lagzdiņš and Jēkabs Zujevs, finished ninth, seven seconds behind the winners. Gusts Lapiņš, riding for Finland's "UN Cycling" team, placed 14th.
Long stage to Valga
In the second part of the opening day, riders tackled a nearly 200-kilometer stage from Riga through Ropaži, Inčukalns, Sigulda, Priekuļi, Rauna, Smiltene and Valka to Valga. Several breakaways formed during the stage, including one near Smiltene that gained over a minute on the peloton before being caught. About 1.5 kilometers before the finish, a major crash occurred in the peloton, affecting several Latvian riders.
The stage was won by Estonia's Romets Pajūrs, followed by Austria's Fabians Šteiningers in second and Norberts Banažeks of the Czech team "ATT Investments" in third. The top Latvian finisher was Olivers Jēkabs Skrapcis in 28th place, while the best-placed National team rider was Markuss Lagzdiņš, finishing 38th.
The tour continues Saturday with a 174-kilometer second stage.
