Bloom dominates and wins “VeloExpress” Latvian championship in MTB XCO cross – Sports

On Saturday in Sigulda, the “VeloExpress” Latvian and Lithuanian Mountain Biking Championship (MTB) Olympic Cross Country (XCO) was held in a great atmosphere. Mārtiņš Blūms from Cēsis became the absolute winner in the men’s elite, while Lithuanian Katrazina Sosna turned out to be unbeatable for the ladies.

For the second year in a row, the Latvian and Lithuanian cycling federations joined forces to hold the MTB XCO cross-country championship in the highest quality and sports competition. This year’s competition was named “VeloExpress”. In total, about 200 participants started in 20 age and skill groups. Leading elite athletes among them.

The competition took place in the vicinity of the “Fischer” ski center in Sigulda with the support of the local government. The track had become physically heavier than in previous years. In addition, the glow was given by the glow, which demanded the last strength from the athletes, especially on the hills.

For the second year in a row, the men’s elite was dominated by Latvian drivers. From the first lap, our only professional mountain biker Mārtiņš Blūms took the lead. With each circle, Cesis grew its predominance. A much more interesting race was for second place. The positions of Oskars Muižnieks were threatened by Māris Bogdanovičs, Alekss Krasts, Mareks Balodis and Lauris Purniņš. Next, Muižnieks increased his advantage over his closest followers. Krast experienced a technical trouble, while Bogdanovič stabilized in the third place. He was separated from Muižnieks for 25 seconds before the last lap.

Mārtiņš Blūms is convincingly the first in the finish. He spent 1 hour 28 minutes and 19 seconds in the distance. Second place for Oskars Muižnieks (+00: 05: 38), and third place for Māris Bogdanovičs (+00: 06: 50). Rogers Petaks demonstrated great speed in the last laps, who beat Lauri Purniņš in the last meters and won the fourth place in the elite. In the U23 men’s competition, the first Petaks, the second member of his team from “ZZK” Mareks Balodis, and the third from Sigulda Jēkabs Vītols (“Veloprofs”).

Elite group:

1. Mārtiņš Blūms, CST PostNL Bafang, 01:28:19

2. Oskars Muižnieks, DTG – MySport, +00: 05: 38

3. Māris Bogdanovičs, Dobele Mill / FeelFree, +00: 06: 50

U23 group:

1. Rogers Petaks, ZZK, 01:35:50

2. Mareks Balodis, ZZK, +00: 02: 14

3. Jēkabs Vītols, Veloprofs.lv, +00: 09: 54

The ladies made an introductory circle, followed by four basic circles. The first two places in the absolute ranking were occupied by Lithuanian women with the title of Katarzin Sosna in the lead. The best Latvian among the elite and CFA combined group was Zane Ķelpe, who in third place in the absolute rating and the historical title of Latvian champion. Second place in the Latvian championship test for Daugavpils resident Vija Frīda from “TK Sniegpulkstenīte”.

The achievements of junior Evelina Ermane-Marchenko should be highlighted. “ZZK” driver not only convincingly won in the junior group, but also was the fastest among all the representatives of the fairer sex of Latvia. Second place in this competition for Lāsma Elza Vaivode.

Women:

1. Zane Ķelpe, MTB Garkalne, 01:24:06

2. Vija Frīda, TK Snow Snow, +00: 06: 27

Juniors:

1. Evelīna Ermane-Marcenko, ZZK, 01:17:29

2. Lāsma Elza Vaivode, LiVelo Golden Land – 1 circle

Ronalds Blumbergs, a representative of “KS Sporta klubs”, was convincingly the fastest in the group of junior boys in the four-lap competition on the hot Sigulda track. Oskars Jaunbērziņš was more than six minutes behind him, while the best three was finished by Dominiks Timšāns, the young athlete of “MSĢ”. The title of national champion for young people in the hands of Artūrs Nummurs. The driver of VeloExpress Scott left teammate Artyom Sergeyevich behind. The trio, meanwhile, was closed by Albert Smilktens. Elīza Dombrovska, a driver of “KS Sports Club”, won the gold prize in the same group for girls.

Juniors:

1. Ronalds Blumbergs, KS Sports Club, 01:10:35

2. Oskars Jaunbērziņš, Dako North Vidzeme, +00: 06: 41

3. Dominiks Timšāns, MSĢ, +00: 10: 41

Young people:

1. Arthur Number, VeloExpress Scott, 12:52:34

2. Artyom Sergeyevich, VeloExpress Scott, +00: 00: 10

3. Alberts Smilktens, KS Sports Club, +00: 03: 36

Young women:

1. Elisa Dombrovskis, KS Sports Club, 00:58:10

The competitions of the youngest groups were also exciting. U14 boys and girls made two big laps. The boys won by Bruno Brēde. He was followed 3 seconds later by Raul Ukins, and the third was Christer Celitan (“VeloExpress Scott”). For girls, the first Amanda Reilijs Zariņš, the second Laura Klismete, and the third Loreta Vaisūna.

Boys:

1. Bruno Brede, LiVelo Golden Land, 00:40:06

2. Rauls Ukins, Carnikava, +00: 00: 03

3. Kristers Celitāns, VeloExpress Scott, +00: 01: 28

Girls:

1. Amanda Reilija Zariņa, Baldone Cycling Department, 00:48:33

2. Laura Klismete, RRS Belo CP, +00:02:19

3. Loreta Vaisūna, Ķekava NSS, +00: 05: 16

Sandijs Kļaviņš, a driver of the VeloExpress Scott unit, became the Latvian champion in the men’s amateur CFA group. Meanwhile, in the last round of Master’s absolute competition, the victory was ensured by the powerful Kļaviņa team member Atis Paksis. In addition to the Latvian championship test, Open class competitions also took place.

CFA men:

1. Sandijs Kļaviņš, VeloExpress Scott, 01:07:26

2. Raivis Jansons, Veloprofs.lv, +00: 00: 40

3. Nauris Birkentāls, Raimaks, +00: 00: 51

Master1:

1. Raivis Ritums, Dobele Mill / FeelFree, 01:11:15

2. Oskars Ārgalis, Velohoologans / Ķeizari1, +00: 00: 29

3. Gatis Svētiņš, DTG – MySport, +00: 00: 41

Master2:

1. Atis Paks, VeloExpress Scott, 01:10:42

2. Mārtiņš Puriņš, Dako Ziemeļvidzeme, +00: 01: 14

3. Armands Pivors, Ogre / Don’t sit at home, +00: 02: 17

Master3:

1. Kaspars Celms, VeloExpress Scott, 01:22:55

2. Jānis Rapa, Dako North Vidzeme

Master4:

1. Agnis Apse, Dako North Vidzeme, 01:14:45

2. Andis Ansulis, MTB Grobiņa, +00: 14: 00

3. Gundars Lazdāns, RK Liepāja, +00: 17: 26

Master5+:

1. Ints Celmraugs, Flower Courier, 01:11:45

2. Viesturs Birkants, NN Sports Club, +00: 08: 08

3. Viktors Baumanis, Latvello, +00: 15: 30

Master 1 ladies:

1. Laura Dreimane, Latvian Cycling girls, 01:18:30

2. Līga Actiņa, LiVelo Golden Land

Open 17+:

1. Edmunds Dārznieks, Lizums, 00:55:22

2. Andris Romanovskis, Ogre / Don’t sit at home, +00: 00: 41

3. Rolands Burcevs, +00: 01: 10

Open lady 17+:

1. Inna Juršēviča, Priekuli MTB, 01:03:45

Latvian Cycling Federation

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