Taaramäe is one of two cyclists from the Baltic states competing in Tour de France this year.
SPA, Belgium— Young Estonian cyclist Rein Taaramäe has gained valuable exposure in the opening stages of the Tour de France.
On Monday’s second stage, the tour continued its journey through Belgium, with riding cycling 201 km from Brussels to Spa. It is tradition for the tour to start in another country, with riders finally hitting France on Tuesday’s third stage.
Taaramäe, who is not expected to be an overall threat for the Tour de France managed to claim some valuable time in the spotlight, receiving valuable television coverage for both himself and sponsors by forming part of an early break away group.
Racing for French team Le Credit en Ligne, Taaramäe formed part of an early break away group of seven riders who chased after Sylvain Chavanel who went alone at the 10km mark. The remainder of the peloton chose to ignore the early break-away group, now numbering eight who rode on unabated for the opening hour.
Once the group was finally pulled back in Chavanel, who was suited to the moderate climbs encountered as riders closed in on Spa was able to count on his strong team Quickstep to keep the peloton under check as he raced off to win the stage in 4 hrs, 40 mins and 48 seconds, nearly 4 minutes ahead of the peloton.
Suited more to sprinting and without the established team mates to support him Taaramäe soon began to tire, being pulled back into the peloton with the rest of the group. However, this pace also proved too much for him, finally finishing the day in a group of 12 riders, 8:51 behind Chavanel.
The only other Balt in this year’s field, Lithuania’s Ignatas Konovalovas is also more suited to sprinting and lagged at the back of the peloton for most of the day. He finally fell off the pace to finish in the last group home, 19:03 behind Chavanel.
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