Polish cyclist Bartosz Rudyk is the winner of the first stage of the International Cycling Race Belgrade – Banja Luka, which was ridden from the Serbian capital to Bijeljina.
Member of the Voster Team was the quickest on a 145 kilometre stage which is traditionally an introduction to the next three stages. Cyclists have traditionally erased the border between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska for a couple of minutes and crossed it without stopping.
 
Rudyk is satisfied by the fact that he will start the second stage in yellow jersey, which will be ridden from Bijeljina to Vlasenica, but he is aware that there is a difficult task ahead of him.
 
“This is my first official victory and I am satisfied about how we did our job as a team. Tomorrow is a new day, a very difficult stage, but I am optimistic, because we have a much better team than last year,” said Rudyk.
 
Lorenzo Conforti of the Italian team Bardiani came second and received the white jersey as the best young rider, while Attilio Viviani of the Italian team Corratec came third. Blue jersey for the best hill rider was awarded to Mario Gamper of the German team Wibatech, while Kristijan Koren of the Slovenian team Adria received the red jersey as the most successful rider on non-stage-finish sprints.
 
The City of Bijeljina is traditionally a partner in the organisation of this race, and advisor to the Bijeljina mayor Radoslav Ostojić pointed out that this event is a spectacle which, in addition to the sport itself, also has a promotional significance, because Bijeljina, Srpska and Serbia are presented in the best way.
“Athletes not only from Europe, but the whole world, came to Bijeljina. Thanks to that, people will hear about Bijeljina in America, Australia, Africa and Asia. We try hard to be good hosts to all the cyclists, and we hope that citizens will join us tomorrow for the start of the next stage of the race,” said Ostojić.
 
The riders will start the stage to Vlasenica tomorrow at 11:00 at the King Petar I Karađorđević Square. Presentations of teams will begin at 10:00.