The Third Latvian Cycling Festival Held in Olaine with EVELO TEAM Triumphing

On Sunday, 20 August, the major Latvian Cycling Festival was held in Olaine for the third consecutive year. As usual, it attracted large numbers of professional cyclists, families with children and groups of friends from all over Latvia. This year, after a fierce contest, Kristaps Knops, an EVELO TEAM athlete and owner of a distinctive wooden bicycle, won the 90 km Sport Road race, while Ģirts Melbārdis of the FANS AP-Print team proved the fastest in the People’s Road race. The day also saw awards presented to the top finishers in the Health and Children’s races. Alongside the competitions, participants enjoyed an extensive entertainment programme throughout the event, bringing the summer season to a close on an energetic and positive note.

The first race to get the event under way at 10:00 a.m. was the lively Children’s Ride, in which the youngest cyclists could demonstrate their strength and perseverance. This year, the Cycling Festival programme was also supplemented by a new Dip Dap course, which the younger generation completed on balance bikes. Shortly afterwards, participants in the popular Latvijas Maiznieks Health race lined up at the starting line opposite the Olaine Forest Park open-air stage. They covered a 16 km route through the city and competed for victory in eight different categories. During the event, awards were presented to the fastest male and female participants, the fastest young riders in the boys’ and girls’ categories, the oldest male and female cyclists, and the youngest boy and girl cyclists, who received valuable prizes from the race organisers and supporters.

Next came the challenging 90 km Sport Road race, which took qualified athletes from Olaine to Mārupe and back. After just under two hours, EVELO TEAM athlete Kristaps Knops deservedly claimed victory in a fierce contest, recording a time of 1 h 58 min 18 sec. A photo finish subsequently determined the joint second- and third-place finishers – Aleksandrs Kulakovs (RRS/Purvciems) and Māris Kalējs (Tukums-Velodraugs), whose recorded time was also 1 h 58 min 18 sec. In the women’s competition, FANS AP-Print rider Viktorija Sipoviča was the fastest this year (2:00:21). Lithuanian rider Justina Jovaišyte of Fortuna Veloman finished second, recording a time of 2 h 21 sec, while local athlete Anastasija Krūmiņa (Belo Cycling Project) completed the podium immediately behind her, finishing just one second behind her rival. EVELO TEAM, led by Kristaps Knops, also proved the most successful team in the overall standings this year.

Finally, in the afternoon, the 45 km People’s Road race brought the Cycling Festival programme to a close. As usual, it attracted individual and team riders of various ages and levels of experience, not only from Latvia but also from neighbouring Lithuania. This time, FANS AP-Print team representative Ģirts Melbārdis emerged as its clear leader, recording a time of 1 h 2 min 35 sec and leaving Artūrs Ļipatņikovs (Velo+) behind with a result of 1 h 2 min 36 sec. Jānis Rubiks of Noname Cycling Project proved the third-fastest rider in this race (1:02:49). In the women’s category, strong Lithuanian riders once again took the top honours, just as they did last year. Specifically, Fortuna Veloman athlete Akvile Gedraityte remained unbeaten this year as well, completing the course in 1 h 2 min 50 sec. Her teammate Karolina Motejūnaite took second place (1:02:52), while Edita Unguryte, representing Velo GHOST veloma, was the third-fastest to reach the finish (1:02:53).

Alongside the competitions, visitors were also welcomed throughout the day by a range of exciting entertainment activities – energetic music, tastings, competitions and prizes from sponsors, a newly opened children’s playground, mobile retail stalls, photo opportunities and a host of other outdoor leisure activities for young and old alike. In addition, to ensure the well-being of the race participants, thirst-quenching VENDEN natural mineral water was provided at several points along the course, while the technical condition of the bicycles was monitored by the FANS bicycle service. After the intense finishes, the cyclists could relax undisturbed in the nearby Cycling Festival dining area, enjoying a tasty and nourishing “Meistara marka” meal.

The Latvian Cycling Festival in Olaine was organised by the sports event agency “Alpha Baltic Sport” in cooperation with the Olaine Municipality and the Latvian Cycling Federation. Sporting activities and a healthy lifestyle were supported by AS Olainfarm. Prizes were provided by Atlētika, Rasēns, Valmieras piens, Silvanols, Olainfarm, Tonuss Elast, SIS sports nutrition, Kivvi cosmetics and the Latvijas aptieka pharmacy chain. This year, the total prize-money fund exceeded €1,600. The Cycling Festival organisers thank all participants and supporters, as well as the police and emergency medical services, who looked after visitors’ safety throughout the event.