Race Report: Baltic Downhill Cup #1 - Lithuanian National Championships 2022

Another season has been set in motion. Several fast Estonians have already tested their speed and skills at European Cup races. Some have survived, some not. I wish a quick recovery for those who haven't. This race though has started the racing season in the Baltics. From 10th to 12th June ,Baltic downhill enthusiasts gathered on a small hillside at Ignalina Lithuania. This small resort town gave the name to a nearby nuclear power plant where the thrilling HBO's Chernobyl series was filmed. The town is surrounded by many lakes and tranquil scenes of forests.

65 riders managed to finish their runs on two tracks. Times from both were combined, fastest being 1.37.91 and average at 1.50s. Lithuania had all their heavyweights healthy and ready to fight for the national title. Estonia was missing Robert Johanson and Hendrik Kirsipuu. Both got injured at a race in Semmering. Armin Pilv and Riko Mäeuibo were enjoying proper trails at Schladming. Latvia had a strong lineup for hobby full suspension class as usual.

For every previous year we've had really dry and dusty conditions there, but this time a small thunder passed on Friday which kept the soil moist until Sunday. This spring has been wet and cool and these few warm days were welcomed by riders coming from north. Promised rain didn't arrive which kept the spirits high.

Upon arrival a small thunder passed which turned dry soil into some paste. After that off we went for track walk.

Work on the tracks was still in progress.

Why bother with cleaning shoes when you can just take a swim later.

Rock garden on track 1 was redesigned this year and made a bit easier.

On track 2 a completely new rock garden was built. Word goes that it'll grow more for next year.

Those who had seen the infamous log gaps from videos and photos were taken aback by the actual size and gnarliness of it in real life.

Slippery

Baltic Downhill Cup 2022 Stage 1 Ignalina

Onto first runs.

A little bit of style from young gun Mark Peterson.

Registration opened.

Something to think about.

Practise trains helped riders to see how they'd do against their opponents.

Second practise day survived. Denis Ivanov (on the photo) took a big slam at log gaps, but was able to walk it off.

Water jump competition completed the Saturday's evening.

Luckily this box didn't come in handy this weekend.

Several good boys were on trackside come race day.

Heaps and heaps of bikes

Lithuanian juniors checking the conditions before a race run.

Two hours of training in the morning and two race runs in the afternoon.

Racers were sheltering from beaming sun as they were waiting for the second run.

Women kicked off racing on Sunday.

Hanna Äle waiting to drop into her second run.

Last year's winner Gerda Einmane took the top step again.

Women's podium.

Next came U14 boys. Mikus Liepkalns won in that category.

U14 podium.

Then came the old men. Latvian race organizer Armands Mezinskis has ditched his hardtail and took silver.

Master's podium. Peteris Strazdinš won as he did last year.

Hardtails were represented by three riders. Raiko jaeski stepped on top. Photo by Andrius Laucius

Juniors followed. Patriks Rullis has steadily gotten faster each year. Bronze for him.

Mark Peterson has moved up to juniors from U14 and took second place right away.

Siim Savik dominated with a convincing margin of 4 seconds.

Junior's podium.

Second track was when people started to get into some proper trouble.

Hobby full suspension is always the most represented category with 21 finishers. Previous year's junior Kevins Koks finished 3rd.

Much to his surprise Eduard Andrianov managed to take second place even with a mishap in his second run. He was well happy with that.

Regular hobby fs winner Gints Bahmanis continued his reign.

Hobby full suspension podium.

Loose

Juho Mattus sat ontop after run one, but then crashed in the logs and had to settle with 5th place.

Dimitri Tereväinen wasn't happy with his runs and finished 4th.

Kenth Lusenberg sat onto a comfortable third place.

Karolis Krukauskas missed first place with a quarter of a second. He became Lithuanian national champion though.

Armands Marcenkovs from Latvia took his much anticipated gold after lurking around it for some years.

Well deserved.

Elite men's podium.

Karolis being awarded the national champion's jersey.

Junior champion in 2021, elite champion in 2022.

Posted In:
Racing and Events DH Racing Race Reports

Author Info:

2rikko
Member since Mar 19, 2013
7 articles