The hardest stage of 2.1 Tour of Slovenia turned out the most successful one for RusVelo team. Ilnur Zakarin was third fastest at the end of 192 epic kilometers with four categorized climbs, a result that catapulted him into second in general standings.

The 21st edition of 2.1 Tour of Slovenia opened with 8.8 km time trial held in the country’s capital Ljubljana. Artem Ovechkin, RusVelo’s specialist of races against the clock, set the seventh best time, 16 seconds down on the recent Giro d’Italia sensation Michael Matthews.