Description
May 03, 2017
Tour d’Azerbaidjan 2017 – Stage 1 – Baku – Sumgaiyt : 155 km
Tour d’Azerbaïdjan – is a 2.1 multi-stage bicycle race of the UCI Europe Tour,
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May 03, 2017
Tour d’Azerbaidjan 2017 – Stage 1 – Baku – Sumgaiyt : 155 km
Tour d’Azerbaïdjan – is a 2.1 multi-stage bicycle race of the UCI Europe Tour, which takes place in Azerbaijan around May. Each day, participants start on a new phase of the race. The race is held in 7 regions of Azerbaijan and finishes in the capital, Baku.[1] Other large cities the race moves through are: Oguz, Chamakh, Maraza, Ismayilli, Gabala, Sheki.
Estonian sprinter of Israel Cycling Academy fastest of the bunch sprint in the streets of Sumgaiyt
Mihkel Räim (Israel Cycling Academy) has won the opening stage bunch sprint at the Tour d’Azerbaidjan, crossing the finish line in Sumgayit just ahead of Emils Liepins (Rietumu Banka – Riga) and Pier Paolo De Negri (Nippo – Vini Fantini). The win also sees Räim take hold of the first leader’s jersey of the race.
It was a tough opening day for the riders at the Tour d’Azerbaidjan with a fierce fight for the day’s breakaway seeing nothing stick. That meant the first and only KOM points of the day were raced for by the peloton, with Vitaliy Buts (Kolss Cycling Team) taking maximum points. His reward, the first red Mountain jersey of the race.
Crosswinds also made for a hard and fast race, and shortly after entering Sumgayit, where the riders took on five town centre laps, a five-man escape group formed taking a maximum lead of 2’40”. With the sprinters’ teams keen to make the most of today’s opportunity, the break was eventually reeled back in, and going into the final lap the peloton caught the last remaining rider out front and the teams got ready for the final sprint.
There was still time for several late attacks as riders tried to jump the sprinters, but no one was able to break free from the bunch. In the final sprint Nippo – Vini Fantini took control, but it was the Estonian sprinter Mikel Räim (Israel Cycling Academy) who came through strongest on the day after an explosive finish.
After three years of competing at the Tour d’Azerbaidjan it is the first stage win and the first GC-jersey for Mihkel Räim.
Results
Stage 1 – Baku – Sumgayit
1. Mihkel Räim (Israel Cycling Academy) 03h04’11”
2. Emils Liepens (Rietumu Bank – Riga) s.t.
3. Pier Paolo De Negri (Nippo – Vini Fantini) s.t.
4. Andriy Kulyk (Kolss Cycling Team) s.t.
5. Edwin Avila (Team Illuminate) s.t.
General Classification
1. Mihkel Räim (Israel Cycling Academy) 03h04’11”
2. Emils Liepens (Rietumu Bank – Riga) s.t.
3. Pier Paolo De Negri (Nippo – Vini Fantini) s.t.
4. Andriy Kulyk (Kolss Cycling Team) s.t.
5. Edwin Avila (Team Illuminate) s.t.
Jerseys
Blue “Synergy” (leader): Mihkel Räim (Israel Cycling Academy)
Red “AZAL” (mountains): Vitaliy Buts (Kolss Cycling Team)
Green “SOCAR” (points): Mihkel Räim (Israel Cycling Academy)
Magenta “Ata” (young rider): Mehdi Benhamouda (Team Novo Nordisk)
 has won the opening stage bunch sprint at the Tour d’Azerbaidjan, crossing the finish line in Sumgayit just ahead of Emils Liepins (Rietumu Banka - Riga) and Pier Paolo De Negri (Nippo - Vini Fantini). The win also sees Räim take hold of the first leader’s jersey of the race.
It was a tough opening day for the riders at the Tour d'Azerbaidjan with a fierce fight for the day's breakaway seeing nothing stick. That meant the first and only KOM points of the day were raced for by the peloton, with Vitaliy Buts (Kolss Cycling Team) taking maximum points. His reward, the first red Mountain jersey of the race.
Crosswinds also made for a hard and fast race, and shortly after entering Sumgayit, where the riders took on five town centre laps, a five-man escape group formed taking a maximum lead of 2'40". With the sprinters' teams keen to make the most of today's opportunity, the break was eventually reeled back in, and going into the final lap the peloton caught the last remaining rider out front and the teams got ready for the final sprint.
There was still time for several late attacks as riders tried to jump the sprinters, but no one was able to break free from the bunch. In the final sprint Nippo - Vini Fantini took control, but it was the Estonian sprinter Mikel Räim (Israel Cycling Academy) who came through strongest on the day after an explosive finish.
After three years of competing at the Tour d'Azerbaidjan it is the first stage win and the first GC-jersey for Mihkel Räim.
Results
Stage 1 - Baku - Sumgayit
1. Mihkel Räim (Israel Cycling Academy) 03h04'11"
2. Emils Liepens (Rietumu Bank - Riga) s.t.
3. Pier Paolo De Negri (Nippo - Vini Fantini) s.t.
4. Andriy Kulyk (Kolss Cycling Team) s.t.
5. Edwin Avila (Team Illuminate) s.t.
General Classification
1. Mihkel Räim (Israel Cycling Academy) 03h04'11"
2. Emils Liepens (Rietumu Bank - Riga) s.t.
3. Pier Paolo De Negri (Nippo - Vini Fantini) s.t.
4. Andriy Kulyk (Kolss Cycling Team) s.t.
5. Edwin Avila (Team Illuminate) s.t.
Jerseys
Blue “Synergy” (leader): Mihkel Räim (Israel Cycling Academy)
Red “AZAL” (mountains): Vitaliy Buts (Kolss Cycling Team)
Green “SOCAR” (points): Mihkel Räim (Israel Cycling Academy)
Magenta “Ata” (young rider): Mehdi Benhamouda (Team Novo Nordisk))
