The winner was determined in a group of ten riders: Romet Pajur, Alo Jakin, Rait Ärm, Gert Kivistik, Oskar Nisu, Lauri Tamm, Aivaras Mikutis, Venantas Lašinis, Jörgen Matt and Andzs Flaksis. The group managed to make a breakaway quite at the beginning of the race and in some places the gap with the main group was extended even to five minutes. Although the main group tried to close the gap for several times, they had no luck. In the last kilometres some of them, including Alo Jakin, attempted to make the final breakaway, but the winner was still determined at the finish line. The fastest leg was shown by Romet Pajur, who won the Junior Tour of Flanders only a week ago. His finish time today was 2h and 47.24 minutes.

 

"It certainly meant a lot that I didn't compete in Tour of Estonia. I was waiting for the finish and when it arrived, Rait Ärm basically made me a leadout, which was very good,” said Pajur.

 

The best woman today was Norwegian rider Malin Eriksen, who was 63rd in overall ranking. "The race went well, but at the beginning it was very difficult due to the wind. I heard from others that there is only one woman in my group besides me and I tried to make a good sprint, which I managed,” said Eriksen.

 

Norwegian cyclist Marthe Berg Edseth finished second, the third and also the best Estonian woman was Kristel Sandra Soonik, who came second in the finish line of the Ladies Tour of Estonia yesterday.

 

"I didn't know in which place I was, I just gave my best. Of course, I did not have such power as yesterday, I was actually quite tired,” said Soonik.

 

Results of all three distances of Tartu Rattaralli are available HERE.

 

A total of 2,496 cyclists registered for the main distances of the 41st Tartu Rattaralli, 243 of them for the shorter (27 km), 983 for the half-distance (60 km) and 1,270 cyclists started in the 128 km course.

 

Tartu Maratoni Klassik series continues with the 25th Tartu MTB Marathon on September 18th.