Results and Reports for May 27, 2001

Estonia

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20th Tartu Rattaralli

20th Tartu Rattaralli

Tartu, May 26-27, 2001

Report

By Janno Toots

Jacky Durand (La Francaise des Jeux) and Jaan Kirsipuu (Ag2r Prévoyance) were the winners of races held last weekend in Tartu, Estonia. Another successful escape helped Durand to win the principal event, 20th Tartu Rattaralli (Bike Rally) over 136 kms. Ag2r riders Innar Mändoja (Estonia) and Linas Balciunas (Lithuania) manned the rest of the podium.

Estonian hero Kirsipuu won Rattaralli's warm-up race in his hometown Tartu, a criterium of 108 kms beating compatriot Janek Tombak (Cofidis) in a two-up finish. Durand was third, a bit suprised the duo managed to leave the peloton in "Durand style".

Rattaralli is a popular race in Estonia since 1982 but first time it saw several pro riders in the line-up: Ludovic Capelle (Ag2r Prévoyance), Tom Flammang (Cofidis), Andy Flickinger (Festina), Arvis Piziks (CSC-WorldOnline), Jay Sweet (BigMat), Andrus Aug (Amore & Vita) in addition to the previous.

Estonia, today without any UCI-listed race, hopes to enter the international calendar in 2002 possibly with a race in Tartu.

Results

Tartu Criterium, 108 km

1 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2r Prévoyance         2.37.35
2 Janek Tombak (Est) Cofidis 
3 Jacky Durand (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux       2.58
4 Peep Mikli (Est) Bert Story Piels              3.07
5 Raido Kodanipork (Est) Hawaii Express          3.47
6 Markku Ainsalu (Est) Taara                     4.14
7 Tom Flammang (Lux) Cofidis                     4.37
8 Innar Mändoja (Est) Ag2r Prévoyance            5.10

20th Tartu Rattaralli, 136km

1 Jacky Durand (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux    3.20.59
2 Innar Mändoja (Est) Ag2r Prévoyance            1.51
3 Linas Balciunas (Lit) Ag2r Prévoyance          1.55
4 Janek Tombak (Est) Cofidis                     2.08
5 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2r Prévoyance            2.20
6 Andrus Aug (Est) Amore & Vita                  2.21 
7 Markku Ainsalu (Est) Taara                     2.22 
8 Marko Kurits (Est) Tähtvere                    2.23