The world’s best MTBO athletes saw a very different challenge compared to yesterday’s sprint, when the long distance was on at the CX80 MTBO World Cup in Bulgaria.
More than 30 kilometers on the bike in both classes and more than 600 meters to climb along the way in Momino forest west of Targovishte.
Nonetheless the winners were the same as on the Sprint: Camilla Søgaard (DEN) sealed her overall World Cup victory by winning after more than 91 minutes in the saddle. Compatriot Cæcilie Christoffersen had a great race and finished second a minute behind Søgaard and with yet another Dane, Nikoline Splittorff in third place.
With her fourth World Cup win this season, Søgaard rounds off the season with impressive 340 points out of 360 possible. Splittorff secured her overall second place with 271 points, 29 points ahead of Ruska Saarela in third.
Another Ludvik-victory
In the mens overall World Cup, Vojtech Ludvik (CZE) was stumbling close to Krystof Bogar’s (CZE) first place after today’s win, but Bogar’s lead with 271 points was impossible to catch – Ludvik was three points behind. Samuel Pokala (FIN) is not racing in Bulgaria, but he scored enough points earlier in the season to finish in third place.
Despite racing for more than an hour and a half, Ludvik won by a narrower margin today compared to yesterday. Andreas Waldmann (AUT) was 7 seconds slower and Davide Marchado (POR) 15 seconds further down.
U23 golds for Denmark and Lithuania
The long distance was another World Championship race for the U23-riders, were Nikoline Splittorff won and swapped places with Kaarina Nurminen (FIN) compared to the sprint. Iris Aurora Pecorari (ITA) won the bronze again.
Ignas Ambrazas (LTU) won the U23 men’s race with Jan Hasek (CZE) and Silas Hotz (SUI) behind him on the podium.
The new U23 World Cup was decided as well today with an exciting finish in the men’s class. Jan Hasek’s second place was just enough for him to stay in first place and take the overall win 15 points ahead of Ignas Ambrazas. Miika Nurmi (FIN) stayed ahead Silas Hotz in the fight for third place.
Nikoline Splittorff scored the maximum 300 points and won a clear overall victory ahead of Saara Yli Hietanen (FIN), who was just one point ahead of Lucie Rudkiewicz (FRA) in third.
Go to results, TV and GPS-tracking from today at IOF LIVE.
Tomorrow’s relay will decide the CX80 Team World Cup, where Finland and Czechia shares the first place. Sweden is third.
Follow the relay at IOF LIVE from 9.30 EEST (UTC+3).
The WMMTBOC-athletes fought for long distance medals as well today, find the results at the organisers homepage.
Photo: Vladislev Rusev Photography