Maxim Pokidov from continental team Itera-Katusha won first stage of national calendar stage race Friendship of the People of the North Caucasus – Russian Elite stage race Championships.

National calendar stage race Friendship of the People of the North Caucasusis Russian Elite stage race Championships. The race will be held from 23^rd September to 6^th October 2012 (13 stages).

First stage was held yesterday in Budennovsk – 25 km individual time trial.

Maxim Pokidov from continental team Itera-Katusha won first stage. Second place took Artem Ovechkin from RusVelo, who lost 1 second to the winner. The podium was completed by Sergey Nikolaev from Samara Region (+1.06).

Another Itera-Katusha riders Alexander Evtushenko finished 6^th with +1.28.

Maxim Pokidov became first overall leader of the race.