The annual Ķekava cycling marathon held in sweltering 33-degree heat
On Sunday, 29 July, the major Ķekava cycling marathon took place for the fifth consecutive year. Despite the exceptionally hot weather, it attracted large numbers of cycling enthusiasts of all ages from the outskirts of Riga and other regions of Latvia. Having tested their abilities in one of three exciting cycling routes, the participants enjoyed a summery day off and took part in various enticing entertainment activities. The most successful riders and most creative teams were, as usual, honoured with valuable prizes from the event’s organisers and supporters.
The Ķekava cycling marathon competitions opened with the energetic Children’s Ride, in which the youngest participants, aged up to 12, tirelessly demonstrated their fighting spirit. Shortly before noon, the start was given for the highly popular Mass Ride. As in previous years, its participants had to cover a 45-kilometre route from Ķekava to Daugmale and Baldone, which ran both along highways and over unpaved surfaces, making the course particularly varied and challenging. In fierce competition, Jānis Rubiks, representing the ZZK team, deservedly won the title, completing the route in 1 hour and 8 minutes at an average speed of 39.6 km/h and leaving the other competitors behind.
Niklāvs Boļšis, representing the “Dobeles dzirnavnieks/FeelFree” team, took the honourable second place in the men’s competition, while Devids Zikrātijs, an athlete representing the “Ķekava Municipality Sports School/Dobeles dzirnavnieks” association, finished immediately behind him. In the women’s category, the victory was convincingly claimed by Santa Sanija Jurgena, a rider from the “Ķekava Municipality Sports School/Dobeles dzirnavnieks” team, who recorded an excellent time of 1 h, 9 min and 39 sec at an average speed of 38.8 km/h. The second-fastest rider was the accomplished Adele Ilga Spigovska from the “ELKOR” team, while her teammate Līga Actiņa (“ELKOR”) finished third. The winners of both competition groups received the cycling marathon’s special prize, “Ķekava Gravel”.
The day continued with the always well-represented Family Ride, which brought together the most active families and the most creative groups of friends and colleagues from across Latvia in a colourful 10-kilometre parade through the town of Ķekava. The brightest, most united and most imaginative teams also competed for valuable surprise prizes in eight different categories. The award for the owner of the most stylish bicycle went to Marina Ķoļesova; Rebeka Krivāde was recognised as the creator of the Most Colourful Helmet; the Dalbiņš family represented the Largest Family; Agnese Brangule took part in the competition as the Most Vivid Cyclist; the title of Retro Rider was awarded to Inesis Malvess; the Purgailis family was recognised as the Most United Family; Arnis Rugājs stood out from the others as the Greenest Participant; and, finally, the Pīgožņi family were the clear winners in the Most Harmonious Tandem category.
Alongside the exciting competitions, visitors at the event venue were entertained by a range of engaging activities: mobile sales stands, tastings, competitions, inflatable attractions and creative workshops for children, DJ performances and energetic musical rhythms. In addition, taking care of the participants’ well-being, NABEGHLAVI mineral water quenched their thirst at several points along the course, while the technical condition of the bicycles was carefully monitored by Velo Depo bicycle service. The lively event host Ivars Bācis helped maintain a good atmosphere during the competition; PF Ķekava provided a nourishing post-finish meal, while Isostar, TORLEY, PF Ķekava and XS Rotaļlietas contributed the extensive prize fund.
