Denmark dominated the women’s race throughout, winning by almost 5 minutes, whilst Czechia’s men retained their title from 2023 with victory by just 16 seconds in dull and damp conditions near Shumen, Bulgaria today.
Cæcilie Christoffersen started strongly for Denmark in the women’s race and was 1.28 in the lead at the first changeover. At that point the eventual silver medalists, Finland 1, were fifth, 2.31 down. On leg 2, Nikoline Splittorff extended Denmark’s lead to 3.43 over the Swiss team, and then Camilla Søgaard also rode an almost error-free race to finish with a lead of 4.59. Ruska Saarela provided one of the best performances of the day in bringing Finland up from sixth to second place on the final leg, finishing 15 seconds in front of bronze medalists Switzerland.
Women’s podium. All photos by Nina Hoffmann
Finland 2 (Teemu Kaksonen) was the leading team at the first changeover in the men’s race, with eventual winners Czechia in fifth place, 0.45 down. Vojtech Ludvik then showed his class in bringing Czechia up to a lead of 19 seconds on leg 2, ahead of Finland 2, Lithuania and Finland 1. Despite a valiant effort from World Cup overall winner André Haga (Finland 1), Krystof Bogar kept in front and brought Czechia into victory by 16 seconds. Finland 1 took silver, and the bronze medals went to Austria where last-leg rider Andreas Waldmann gained two places. Austria’s first leg was ridden by the exciting junior prospect Hannes Hnilica, fresh from winning the M20 Long race yesterday.
Men’s podium.
In the Junior World Championships Relay, gold went to Sweden’s women and France’s men.
W20 Podium.
M20 Podium
This race brings an enjoyable and challenging CX80 World MTBO Championships to an end. The 2025 championships will be held in mid-August in Poland.
Leading results
Women
- Denmark (Cæcilie Christoffersen, Nikoline Splittorff, Camilla Søgaard) 140:23
- Finland (Ingrid Stengård, Antonia Haga, Ruska Saarela) 145:22
- Switzerland (Jana Luscher Alemany, Celine Wellenreiter, Ursina Jaeggi) 145:37
- Czechia 146:37
- France 146:49
- Lithuania 147:59
Men
- Czechia (Jan Hasek, Vojtech Ludvik, Krystof Bogar) 123:51
- Finland (Miika Nurmi, Samuel Pokala, André Haga) 124:07
- Austria (Hannes Hnilica, Georg Koffler, Andreas Waldmann) 125:21
- Lithuania 126:36
- France 130:31
- Poland 134:26
W20
Gold – Sweden, Silver – Finland, Bronze – France
M20
Gold – France, Silver – Sweden, Bronze – Finland