Photo Report: Baltic Downhill Cup #2 - Latvian National Championships 2021 by 2rikko

Once again Baltic Downhill Cup visited the steep slopes of Gauja river valley. This time for the second stage of 2021 race series. On 24th to 25th of July riders gathered to put themselves on line and to see how consistent their riding is on a long run. 62 riders got their results on paper. The best of the best will be awarded in Lithuania at the third stage.

Unfortunately this race didn't go with a few missing riders. Elite favourite Juho Mattus sat at home with a broken foot. Some were cathing bigger fish in a bigger pond. Rokas, Robert and Karolis were in Alps trying to prove their worth on a big stage. Reinis Prieditis and Linda Butkus spent some time in Norway building dream trails. Also missing were Tanel Tõrvik and Gusts for example. This didn't make racing any less exiting as the times were still tight and loose tracks caught out those who couldn't adapt.

The weather blessed us with tolerable warmth and dry conditions although the loose soil started to play games on race day. The tracks had changed since last year, but the most interesting and steepest parts stayed as they were. Starting out one track split into two going to forest. One meandered around a creek until a bigger open part that turned into a slip and slide in 2020. This time small supportive turns developed which allowed for more speed. Then it headed to the finish with a last jump in between. Second track headed right into the steeps and went down with tight turns. One last jump in the end and to the finish. Catching nets and mats saw some good use there and some places that didn't have them had riders heading straight down. Overall the tracks were more fun this time.

Lets start out with a small look into Saturdays practise.

It was cool to see a proper start gate which got quite a lot of attention from bypassers.

Roadies stopping to take a look.

Work never stops.

Practise kicking off.

Crashes were common..

Especially on that steep left turn on second track.

Suunto, Red Bull, Würth, Mangali, Latvia's Cycling Federation, Dobele, Veloshops and Moller Auto made this event possible.

Things always just work out.

Preparations happening while you're having fun.

Regular setups...

...and a space station.

Let's get racing.

Gerda Einmane took a win with a big margin in womens.

Jana Logvinova became the Latvian champion because Gerda was too young to qualify as she's young enough to be a junior.

Women's podium from left to right: Jana Logvinova, Gerda Einmane and previous champion Melisa Samilina.

Jēkabs Melecis also had a convincing lead from others in U14 group.

U14 podium from left to right: Jānis Šlosbergs, Jēkabs Melecis and Edvards Špaksts,

Splits show that in juniors Taavi Pärnamets was fastest on both tracks and yet again mistakes ruined his hopes to step on the podium.

Patriks Rullis has gotten comfortable on the lowest seat of podium.

Dāvis Zagorskis rose two spots higher from last year and was off the win by 1.51 seconds. He earned the Latvian champion jersey.

Fresh Estonian champion Kenth Lusenberg finally gets to taste winning.

Junior boys' podium from left to right: Dāvis Zagorskis, Kenth Lusenberg and Patriks Rullis.

3rd in masters, Edgars Simsons.

Raivis Ranks was fastest on first track but missed 2 seconds on the other. He finished 2nd.

Agris Brivers managed to defend his title and added another gold to his collection.

Masters' podium from left to right: Raivis Ranks, Agris Brivers and Edgars Simsons.

Gints Bahmanis found more competition this time and had to settle with bronze.

Ansis Blumbergs must of had some kind of a mistake and stood 7th after his first run. Then he pinned it and put down the fastest time for second track in hobby full suspension category.

Then Kristers Berzinš rode the fastest time of the day with 1.20.14.

Hobby full suspension podium from left to right: Ansis Blumbergs, Kristers Berzinš and Gints Bahmanis.

Hendrik Kirsipuu was the man to beat after first runs but then he crashed.

Tālis Liepinš is the kind of guy to not touch his bike for a long time and then comes out to show everyone who's boss. A crash in his first run ruined it, though on second run he outperformed everyone.

Henrijs Vimba left with 3rd place.

Mārtiņš Bērziņš won his first Latvian champion title.

Armin Pilv only showed up on Sunday morning, but less preparation doesn't make him less of a contender. He managed to put down two clean runs which earned him first place in men elite.