In the final stage of the Tour of Estonia (UCI 2.1.), the Tartu GP (156,8 km; 14 x 11,2 km), it was Poland's Marceli Bogusławski (ATT Investments) who proved strongest in the finishing sprint. With the victory, he also secured the overall title of this year's Tour of Estonia.
The race got underway on Thursday with the prologue, won by Romet Pajur of the Estonian National Team. Friday's Tallinn–Tartu GP, meanwhile, was won by Latvian rider Mārtiņš Pluto (Energus Cycling Team), who also took over the overall race lead from Pajur.
The gaps in the general classification remained small, however, leaving everything to play for ahead of Saturday's Tartu GP. On a day marked by heavy rain showers, Pajur collected valuable bonus seconds at the intermediate sprints, winning one and finishing second in another. As a result, he moved into the virtual overall race lead before the final sprint.
As many had expected, the Danish and Norwegian riders who had built up an advantage of around 20 seconds were reeled in during the final lap, setting up a bunch sprint to decide the outcome. There, ATT Investments rider Bogusławski powered to victory. The Pole had previously won the Tour of Estonia prologue four years ago and claimed victory in last year's Tallinn–Tartu GP. This time, he completed the set by winning the Tartu GP and the overall Tour of Estonia classification.
"Today was really hard from the start. There were a lot of attacks on the short climb. It was a crazy day, and the weather was ‘amazing’ as well, but we managed to get through it. My teammates did a fantastic job over the final ten kilometres and delivered a perfect lead-out for me," said race winner Bogusławski.
The full results of the Tour of Estonia Tartu GP and general classification can be found here.
On Sunday, attention turns to the 45th Tartu Rattaralli, often referred to as the holy grail of Estonian road cycling. Many of the teams that competed in the Tour of Estonia will also be on the start line. More information is available at www.tartumaraton.ee/en.
