Tour de Slovaquie is the next race for Gazprom — RusVelo
On the 7-11 of June Gazprom — RusVelo is to compete in the Tour de Slovaquie.
Even though the Slovakian race got its current 2.1 UCI category this season, the race was founded in far 1954. This year will bring the 61st edition.
The total distance of 762 kilometers is packed in five stages during which riders are to cross the country from east to west rolling out in the town of Levoča and finishing in Trnava. The competition starts with the prologue of 3,7 kilometers. After this short preface riders are to swing into action on the first stage of 212 kilometers and 7 category hill climbs. The feast of crags and mountains continues on the following stages with the only exception for the final day with the 152,5 kilometers of a flat course.
Riders of various specializations will have their chances to take over the Slovakian Tour. Team’s young climbers Ildar Arslanov and Alexey Rybalkin with an experienced all-rounder Artem Ovechkin are to focus on the hardest mountainous stage. Ivan Savitskiy supported by Nikolay Trusov has it all to succeed on the bunch sprint stages, whilst Anton Vorobyev is set up to try his chances in the breakaways.
Artem Ovechkin shared his expectations: “The recent races boded well for my physical condition and I feel confident in front of the upcoming start. It will be my debut on Tour de Slovaquie and the altimetry certainly suits me better than the French race Boucles de la Mayenne we competed last week. Even though the prologue is too short, I am still setting up to show a strong start and keep the pace on the following days. For the first stage we expect attacks on the final climbs and that will be the crucial moment not to loose the chance and keep up with the leading group to fight for the highest places on the final kilometres.”
Gazprom – RusVelo line-up:
Ildar Arslanov, Artem Ovechkin, Ivan Savitskiy, Nikolay Trusov, Alexey Rybalkin, Anton Vorobyev.
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