On Sunday, the full season of the Latvian State Forest Mountain Bike Marathon 2020 started with the home cycling classic Cēsis – Valmiera. Toyota Hybrid triumphed in the distance the most titled domestic MTB athlete Mārtiņš Blūms and multiple national champion Katrīna Jaunslaviete-Kipure. In the meantime, Ģirts Cirvelis and Renāte Rodionova were on the unbeatable fast track in the “Lielbāta” People’s race.
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The long-awaited season of the Latvian State Forest Mountain Bike Marathon with live stages started on Sunday, August 2. Continuing the tradition, the first of the five stages planned for this year took place from Cēsis to Valmiera. This distance has been included in the series for 19 years. The Cēsis – Valmiera section has always been the fastest and most dynamic section of the season. The average speeds for the leaders were well over 30 kilometers per hour. This year was no exception.
In the prestigious “Toyota Hybrid” distance, with the participants covering a distance of 48 kilometers, Mārtiņš Blūms was already away from everyone at the beginning of the track. Cesis, who is currently the only fully professional mountain biker in Latvia, quickly increased his lead to more than 1 minute. Questions about the winner did not arise until the finish. The cyclist representing the Dutch team “CST PostNL Bafang” celebrated a beautiful victory, spending 1 hour 20 minutes and 30 seconds on the track.
Much fiercer vigor turned into second place. Already at Valmiera, the solo breakthrough came to Andžis Flaksis, who was able to get away from the competitors and cross the finish line second. Andžs, who came to Mārtiņš from Dunalka, gave in for 1 minute and 45 seconds. Only in the rise of the finish was the fate of the third place decided. In a fierce battle with Kasapars Seģis, another Cēsis Roger Petaks (“ZZK”) earned a place on the podium. Kaspars Serģis (“Patria – Bottecchia”), Reinis Andrijanovs (“Dobeles dzirnavnieks / FeelFree”) and Mārtiņš Daļeckis (“Dako Ziemeļvidzeme”) also ranked in the top six.
In the women’s competition, Katrīna Jaunslaviete-Kipure from ZZK team gave in to a great race. He was able to accumulate several minutes of leadership over his fiercest competitor Leldi Ardava. A convincing victory for Katrina at the finish. “VW Komerctransports Veloprofs.lv” representative Lelde Ardava took the second place (+00: 05: 02), while the best three was closed by TK “Sniegpulkstenīte” representative – Daugavpils resident Vija Frīda. Anita Antone (“Baldone velokomanda”), Laura Ramane (“Bauska velokomanda”) and Madara Āboma (“Dobeles dzirnavnieks / FeelFree”) also ranked in the TOP 6.
In the team rating, the DTG – MySport team triumphed in the Toyota Hybrid distance, followed by the Patria – Bottecchia and Dako North Vidzeme teams.
In the traditionally most popular “Lielbāta” People’s Ride, cyclists covered a distance of 38 kilometers. During it, Ģirts Cirvelis (“Roadex”) and his home Jānis Rubiks (“Dako Ziemeļvidzeme”) managed to escape from the leading group. Neither of them reached the finish line. Cirvelis had left more strength on his feet in the closing hill, who also celebrated the victory. Less than a second later, Rubik finished. In the great fight for the third place, the winner of the virtual trip Cēsis – Valmiera Oskars Ārgalis from the “Velohooligans / Ķeizari 1” team turned out to be the best. He was separated from the victory by 1 minute and 32 seconds.
For the ladies in the same distance, the first place went to Carnik place Renāte Rodionova, followed by Latvian junior champion MTB XCO cross country Evelīna Ermane Marchenko (“ZZK”) and “VW Komerctransports Veloprofs.lv” driver Beate Kovgere. Rinalds Skopāns (“Velo Express Aerify”) won in the junior boys group. Ronalds Rītiņš (“VW Komerctransports Veloprofs.lv”) gave in 31 seconds and won the second place, but Atis Fjodorovs (“LiVelo / Zelta zeme”) finished the top three.
“Dako Ziemeļvidzeme” won the team rating, followed by “Velohooligans / Ķeizari 1” and “Valmiera velo vienība”.
The boys and girls of the youngest groups competed in the “Mammadaba” Health Ride, which reached a length of 29.7 kilometers. The Hawaii Express Scott team driver Richard Lozber gave a great performance. He was still in the V12 group, he was able to beat all the representatives of the V14 group. Talsi spent 1 hour 3 minutes and 59 seconds on the track. The second in the V12 group was Helvijs Kancers, and the third was Harald Worker. In the V14 group the boys are first – Bruno Brēde, the second Markuss Lagzdiņš, but the third Rauls Ukins. Paula Patricia Tilko triumphed in the girls’ W14 group, and Linda Elizabeth Brilte won first place in the W12 group.
“Maxima” children’s rides took place in a very exciting atmosphere in Cēsis Unity Square. They were attended by young pedals from the age of 3-11.
The second stage of the Latvian State Forest Mountain Bike Marathon live season will take place on August 15 in Sigulda.
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