The participant of the Winter Olympic Games in biathlon Oskars Muižnieks (DTG-MySport) had won the previous six years, but this time it was much more difficult to achieve victory for the seventh time, as he had already qualified for the Games and Martiņš Blūms, who had competed in the Games and finished 17th, became the first Latvian Olympian in the MTB XCO discipline. Notably, it was Blum who had won before Muižnieks’ winning streak in 2017. Among the participants was also the 2016 European MTB marathon champion and 2015 bronze medalist Pēters Pruss from Estonia, who had competed in the Games three years ago in Tokyo in road cycling. Additionally, two other athletes took part: Roberts Slotiņš and rower Kristaps Zaļupe, who had achieved the highest placing among the “Vivus.lv MTB Marathon” participants, with a seventh-place finish in Beijing.
Kārlis Klismets, the fifth-place winner of the Latvian championship in the individual race, was the fastest at the starting hill “Kärcher” in the 56km marathon distance (2x28km), but in the subsequent stages, Martiņš Blūmas’ dominance became evident. The main favorite had already accumulated more than a minute advantage over his closest pursuers by the end of the first lap and maintained this advantage throughout the second lap to claim victory in this discipline since 2017. Consequently, the rider of “KMC-Ridley” won his second Latvian championship gold this year, having also won the MTB cross earlier in the year.
After the first lap, Muižnieks and Prusa separated in the second lap, with the Estonian champion claiming second place. The 45-year-old Muižnieks, who had won the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in 2017, secured his eighth consecutive award in the MTB marathon with this second place. Aleksandrs Patrijuks, who had joined the competition at the last moment, finished fourth overall but third among Latvian athletes.
The Swedish brothers displayed notable performances, finishing in the top six, with the younger brother Rainer, who had won the previous stage, eventually surpassing Nauri, who had been more active in the front trying to catch Patriuk. Lauris Purniņš, who had consistently placed in the top three throughout the “Vivus.lv MTB marathon” this season and had won the Cape Epic alongside Muižnieks, finished seventh.
For the women, Katrīna Jaunslaviete-Kipure, who had missed the 2021 and 2023 championships, claimed first place and won her third title in the past five years. The “ZZK/AP print” rider matched Blum’s feat by winning both the MTB cross and the MTB marathon this year. In the second lap, Zane Priede overtook Beata Kovgeri for second place.
Therefore, to the three bronzes he had already won, Zane added a silver in the MTB marathon, but this year he earned a complete set of medals at the national championships, as he had also won the criterium race and finished third in the MTB cross. On the other hand, Kovger, who had already won a complete set of medals in the past three years in the MTB marathon, claimed her fourth consecutive award.
Oskars Ārgalis, who had surprised everyone on the first day of the 28km half-marathon in Talsi a month ago, proved that his victory in Kamparkaln was no fluke, as he remained unbeaten in Žagarkaln. His fiercest competitor, champion of the individual race, Đirts Cirvelis, finished second this time. Completing the trio was Kristers Celitāns, who had won the gold in the Latvian U18 Championship.
Krista Pūcīte claimed the elite vice-championship for the fourth time, while Kate Skujiņa, the champion in the youth group in skiing and road cycling, deserved the victory. Kate finished fourth having won the U16 gold in the Latvian championship earlier this year.
The second place went to Lelde Ardava, the winner of the last stage, who had only won the champion’s shirt in the Master group five years ago. Completing the trio was Amanda Reilia Zariņa, who had won gold in the U18 group.
Mārtiņas Ice and Samantas Celitānes, the winners of the previous five stages, were absent from the 14km distance of “Mangaļi” teenagers. In their absence, Olivers Šika and Katrīna Hansone claimed their first victory in the absolute rating. Raimonds Pilenieks and Roberts Yudins won the other prizes, while Milena Karlsone and Samanta Roziņa won in the girls’ competition.
The fastest runners in the sprint stage were Martiņš Blums and Katrīna Jaunslaviete-Kipure, while “DTG-MySport” won the marathon and “Roadex” won the half-marathon. Even the smallest participants of the “Vivus.lv MTB marathon” competed in the “Cido” children’s races.