20.05.2024
Five previous tour winners will start at the Tour of EstoniaOn Friday, May 24th, the Tour of Estonia for professional cyclists begins. Five men who have previously won the tour are coming to the starting line, among them four Estonians. A total of 17 teams will start, including 2 Estonian teams and 2 professional teams.
Last year's winner, Rasmus Bøgh Wallin, is on this year's tour with the Norwegian professional cycling team Uno-X Mobility. "Of course, as the winner of last year's tour, Rasmus is in a very important position for us. However, we still have men on the list to play cards on. Everything depends on how the race will go," explains Max Emil Kørner, sports director of Uno-X Mobility Team.
Tour of Estonia 2019 winner Mihkel Räim and 2015 winner Martin Laas will represent their home club Ferei Quick-Panda Podium Mongolia Team this year. Räim thinks that their chances on the tour are rather good. "Even though we have only 5 men at the start, we cannot be underestimated. All of us know the tour very well, especially the Tartu stage".
He explains that there is no definite leader in the team and it rather depends on how the race will go. "If there should be a group finish, we have Martin Laas who is a great sprinter".
The Estonian National Team also has two previous winners of the tour: Karl Patrick Lauk (2017 and 2021) and Gert Jõeäär (2013). According to Alo Jakin, the sports director of the Estonian National Team, the previous years have shown that Norman Vahtra is also well suited for this race, and Rait Ärm also seems to be in good shape.
"There is no definite leader yet, but the goal cannot be less than victory, both in the general classification and in the stages". He also adds that this year they have three men in the team who are racing their first year in the men's class: Karl Kurits, Markus Mäeuibo and Virgo Mitt.
Tour of Estonia has two stages: Tallinn-Tartu on May 24th (196.4 km) and Tartu Grand Prix on May 25th (164.8 km). |