Baltic Chain Tour
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Date | August |
| Region | Northern Europe |
| English name | Baltic Chain Tour |
| Discipline | Road |
| Competition | UCI Europe Tour |
| Type | Stage race |
| History | |
| First edition | 1955 |
| Editions | 27 (as of 2016) |
| First winner |
 Harijs Japiņš (LAT) |
| Most wins |
 Ants Väravas (EST) |
| Most recent |
Maris Bogdanovics (LAT) |
Baltic Chain Tour is a stage race for professional road bicycle racers organized as a part of the UCI Continental Circuits. Baltic Chain Tour was established to commemorate Baltic Way. Tour is conducted mainly in the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, however in 2013 it started in Lahti, Finland. Baltic Chain Tour is a UCI category 2.2 cycling tour.[1]
The joint Baltic cycling tour has a long history. The tradition began in the 1950s and was broken in 1987. On November 4, 2010 in Riga, the presidents of three national cycling unions signed a cooperation agreement to restore the tradition of the Baltic cycling tour.[2]
Origins
Although the first international cycling race in the Baltics was held in 1889 from Riga (Latvia) to Tallinn (Estonia),[3] the first Baltic Tour was held in 1955. For its first four years the tour was held in Latvia and Lithuania. Since 1959 the tour has been held in three Baltic countries. For many, it was a preparation for the Peace Race, which usually was held after Baltic Tour. At the time, the tour took place in May. The modern tour is raced in August to commemorate the famous Baltic Chain event. The current record holder for most wins is the Estonian Ants Väravas, who won the race three times – in 1959, 1962 and 1964.[4]
Modern Tour 2011 – present
| Rider | Team | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | |
Pütsep, ErkiErki Pütsep (EST) | Alpha Baltic–Unitymarathons.com |
| 2012 |  |
Bagdonas, GediminasGediminas Bagdonas (LTU) | Lithuania national team |
| 2013 |  |
Walsleben, PhilippPhilipp Walsleben (GER) | BKCP–Powerplus |
| 2014 |  |
van der Poel, MathieuMathieu van der Poel (NED) | BKCP–Powerplus |
| 2015 |  |
Kulyk, AndriyAndriy Kulyk (UKR) | Kolss BDC Team |
| 2016 | |
Bogdanovics, MarisMaris Bogdanovics (LAT) | Rietumu–Delfin |
Stage Winners by Nationality
| # of Victories | Country | Riders |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Lithuania |
Gediminas Bagdonas Raimondas Rumšas |
| 5 | Ukraine |
Volodymyr Gomenuk Yuri Metlushenko Mykhaylo Kononenko Andriy Kulyk |
| 3 | Germany |
Philipp Walsleben Marcel Meisen Phil Bauhaus |
| 2 | Latvia |
Indulis Bekmanis Andris Smirnovs |
| 2 |  Russia |
Andrey Sazanov Ivan Balykin |
| 2 |  Sweden |
Alexander Gingsjö |
| 1 |  Slovakia |
Patrik Tybor |
| 1 | Estonia |
Mihkel Räim |
| 1 | Netherlands |
Mathieu van der Poel |
| 1 |  Finland |
Matti Manninen |
Baltic Tour winners 1955–1987
| Rider | Team | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | |
Japiņš, HarijsHarijs Japiņš (LAT) | Latvia |
| 1956 | |
Paršaitis, KazysKazys Paršaitis (LTU) | Cycling Team Dinamo |
| 1957 | |
Krulikauskas, BroniusBronius Krulikauskas (LTU) | Lithuania |
| 1958 | |
Krulikauskas, BroniusBronius Krulikauskas (LTU) | Lithuania |
| 1959 | |
Väravas, AntsAnts Väravas (EST) | Estonia |
| 1960 | |
Leegu, ReinRein Leegu (EST) | Estonia |
| 1961 | |
Pavlovs, AleksandrovsAleksandrovs Pavlovs (LAT) | ASK Rīga |
| 1962 | |
Väravas, AntsAnts Väravas (EST) | Estonia |
| 1963 | |
Grabauskas, JuozasJuozas Grabauskas (LTU) | Lithuania |
| 1964 | |
Väravas, AntsAnts Väravas (EST) | Estonia |
| 1972 | |
Berankis, VytautasVytautas Berankis (LTU) | Lithuania |
| 1973 | |
Paškauskas, VytautasVytautas Paškauskas (LTU) | Lithuania |
| 1974 | |
Kalnienieks, RingoldsRingolds Kalnienieks (LAT) | Latvia |
| 1975 | |
Jēkabsons, AndrisAndris Jēkabsons (LAT) | Latvia |
| 1976 | |
Jēkabsons, AndrisAndris Jēkabsons (LAT) | Latvia |
| 1978 | |
Sarkanis, AndrisAndris Sarkanis (LAT) | Latvia |
| 1979 | |
Bergs, ArnisArnis Bergs (LAT) | Latvia |
| 1980 |  |
Mironov, A.A. Mironov (BUL) | Bulgaria |
| 1981 | |
Veeranna, JaanJaan Veeranna (EST) | Estonia |
| 1986 | |
Feldmanis, ĒriksĒriks Feldmanis (LAT) | Latvia |
| 1987 | |
Murd, AivarAivar Murd (EST) | Estonia |
References
- ↑ Baltic Chain Tour homepage
- ↑ Estonian Public Broadcasting
- ↑ Estonian Olympic Committee In Estonian
- ↑ Delfi.ee In Estonian
External links
- Official website
- Baltic Chain Tour on Facebook
- Baltic Chain Tour on Twitter
- Baltic Chain Tour's channel on YouTube