KNIGHTS OF TWO-WHEELED HORSES

Azerbaijan was the venue for Tour d'Azerbaidjan-2014, an international bicycle race, dedicated to the 91st anniversary of the birth of national leader Heydar Aliyev.

Taking part in the race, which was ranked as a 2.1 level event within UCI Europe Tour and was divided into five stages, were 150 cyclists representing 25 teams from 22 countries, who covered 838 km in five days.

The first stage started at the National Flag Square in Baku and finished in the city of Sumqayit. It was won by Dutchman Kenny van Hummel of Androni Giocattoli (Italy). He became the holder of the blue jersey as the leader and the green jersey as the best sprinter of the stage.

Vitaliy Buts of Kolss Cycling Team (Ukraine) finished second and received the red jersey as the best mountain biker. Italian David Vigano of Caja Rural Seguros (Spain) finished third, while Maxim Averin of Synergy Baku (Azerbaijan) was fourth.

The purple-and-white jersey of the best young cyclist was awarded to Alex Frei of Development Team Giant-Shimano (Sweeden).

At the second stage, representatives of 25 teams started at the Bike Park and negotiated a 187-km circuit to the Ismayilli district.

The stage was wan by Slovenian cyclist Primoz Roglich of Adria Mobil (Slovenia).

Australian William Clarke of Drapac Professional Cycling (Australia) was second, and Italian Rafael Adrian of Neri Sottoli (Italy) was third.

Alexander Surutkovich, who finished 28th, was the best among the cyclists of the Synergy Baku team at this stage.

Based on the results of two stages, the leader's blue jersey went to Australian W. Clarke, the red jersey of the best mountain biker to P. Roglich, the sprinter's green jersey to Slovenian Matej Mugerli of Adria Mobil. Swede Fredrik Ludvigsson of Development Team Giant-Shimano became the best young cyclist and received the purple-and-white jersey.

During the third stage, the cyclists covered 180 km, riding from Qabala through Oguz to Saki [Sheki] and then returning to the starting point.

The stage was won by Algerian cyclist Youcef Reguigui of MTN-Qhubeka (South Africa).

Slovenian Matej Mugerli of Adria Mobil (Slovenia) was second at the finish line, while Dane Kristian Haugaard Jensen of Development Team Giant-Shimano (Sweden) was third.

The best among Synergy Baku cyclists was Marcus Eiberg who was 15th at the finish.

At the fourth stage, the cyclists covered 115 km, having started in Qabala and finished at the Pirqulu Observatory in the Samaxi region, at an altitude of 1,450 meters above sea level.

This stage was won by German Linus Gerdemann of MTN-Qhubeka (South Africa). Russian Ilnur Zakarin of RusVelo (Russia) was second; Ukrainian Vitaliy Buts of Kolss Cycling Team (Ukraine) was third.

Based on the results of the four stages, the red jersey of the best mountain biker went to L. Gerdemann, the blue jersey of the leader in the overall standings to Zakarin, and the green jersey of the best sprinter to V. Buts.

F. Ludvigsson retained the purple-and-white jersey of the best young cyclist.

The last stage of Tour d'Azerbaidjan-2014 was held in Baku and happened to be the longest as the cyclists covered 202 km from the centre of Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, to the settlement of Nardaran and returned to the starting point near the Government House.

The winner of this stage was Frenchman Justin Jules of Team La Pomme Marseille 13 (France). Youcef Reguigui of MTN-Qhubeka (South Africa) finished second and Adrian Honkisz of CCC Polsat Polkowice (Poland) was third.

Based on the results of all five stages, the overall title of Tour d'Azerbaidjan-2014 was won by Ilnur Zakarin of Russia's RusVelo.

L. Gerdemann of MTN-Qhubeka (South Africa) was name the best mountain biker; V. Buts of Kolss Cycling Team (Ukraine) was named the best sprinter; Robert Power of Australia's Youth Team was named the best young cyclist.

Samir Cabrayilov of Synergy Baku proved to be the best Azerbaijani cyclist.

Ukraine's Kolss Cycling Team won the overall team standings, while Azerbaijan's Synergy Baku finished 10th among 25 teams.