Despite the generational change the aim is to win. On May 27-31, the main cycling road race in the Baltics, the Tour of Lithuania, will be held for the fourth time in a row, with no less than 22 teams from 4 continents. Although the Lithuanian cycling stars Ramūnas Navardauskas and Ignatas Konovalovas have already retired, the national team coach Gediminas Bagdonas hopes that the Lithuanians will still step on the podium in the most important races in their homeland.
The only competition of this level for professionals in the Baltic States
Tour of Lithuania has five stages: cyclists will compete in Tauragė, Kėdainiai, Utena, Kaunas and Vilnius. Last year, not a single Lithuanian made it among the winners, and Venantas Lašinis was really close, taking the fourth place in Tauragė.
“More Lithuanians are entering the race. The Energus team will be competitive, and there will be more representatives of the Lithuanian national team. We don’t know yet whether Aivaras Mikutis will be able to participate, but we are trying to convince him – such a famous name is needed both for the competition and for the result. Every year, the team members fight for a stage victory and we try to get into the top 10 in the overall standings. This year, the goal will be the same and we will try to win. In addition, Ignatas Konovalovs should adjust everything so that Energus starts with a very strong line-up,” said G. Bagdonas.
Tour of Lithuania is the only competition of this level for professionals in the Baltic States. The race is designated by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as 2.2 category, so cyclists can earn ranking points towards the qualification to the world, European championships and even the Olympic Games.
“We all know each other in our own backyard, we know what to expect from each other, yet this is an international event with many strong teams and we can compete at a higher level. Previously, there was the Baltic Chain tour, which is still taking place, but the Tour of Lithuania is useful in that we compete for 5 days across Lithuania, representing our beautiful homeland. And the international riders are very satisfied, because they get a really high-level competition,” said the coach of the Lithuanian national team.
In the past decade, the Lithuanian name in road cycling was best known for Ramūnas Navardauskas, who won stages of the Tour de France (2014) and the Giro d’Italia (2013) as well as bronze at the 2015 World Championship. What’s missing for the country’s tricolor to fly again on the international stage?
“Maybe there’s a lack of continuity. I think that the recently formed Energus is that continuity, stepping up and showing what we’re capable of. I think that with such a team, young people will have additional motivation to continue their careers. Currently, Aivaras Mikutis is riding at the highest level, in the Swiss Tudor pro cycling team. Aivaras will definitely have his time to shine. There are even younger talents, like Matas Kublius, who rides in the Cannibal – Victorious U19 Development Team, and the Energus team also has talented young people. It takes time, now, we have a brake, but Tour of Lithuania is perfect for younger athletes and everything should be better”, – said G. Bagdonas.
The Tour of Lithuania cycling race is partially financed by state funds, which are administered by the National Sports Agency, and by the funds of the municipalities of the cities of Tauragė, Kėdainiai, Utena, Kaunas and Vilnius.
