Rait Ärm finishes second on opening stage of Lithuania Tour

Estonian cyclist Rait Ärm claimed second place on the opening stage of the Lithuania Tour (UCI 2.2) in Tauragė. Italian Alexander Konychev won the stage, covering 156.2 km in 3:20.57. Ärm, who recently recovered from a collarbone fracture, delivered an impressive performance.

Italian cyclist Alexander Konychev of China Anta – Mentech Cycling Team claimed victory on the opening stage of the Lithuania Tour (UCI 2.2) in Tauragė on Wednesday. The 156.2-kilometre stage, run from Tauragė to Tauragė, was completed in a time of 3 hours, 20 minutes and 57 seconds.

The best Estonian result of the day went to Rait Ärm, riding for Energus Cycling Team, who crossed the line in second place. The performance is particularly notable given that Ärm has only recently returned to racing after recovering from a collarbone fracture.

Crosswinds played a decisive role in the race, splitting the peloton and creating significant gaps between riders during the stage. The Lithuania Tour, now in its third edition, is contested at UCI 2.2 level, making it one of the more competitive stage races in the Baltic region.