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Race Report | Santa Cruz Enduro Round 1 – Finland

Finnish enduro bikers were put into a real physical test on the first Finnish championship race, at the Santa Cruz Enduro Series, in Lahti, Messilä, on the 17th of May. Competition took place at the Messilä skiing hill with 9 stages and the challenge for the riders was the “no lift” access. Everyone was really concentrating on the hydration and proper refueling during the day when they had to pedal to all the stages.

More than 250 daredevils really enjoyed the first three stages which where done twice and the first stage three times. The upper parts of the trails were fast and after the middle transitioned into technical or very technical, which offered more riding styles than there where competitors. Stage number four, a stony and sloping trail, was the trickiest of them all. It offered a real challenge to everyone, especially at the end of the trail, which ended to a beautiful lakeside view.

"Competition took place at the Messilä skiing hill with 9 stages and the challenge for the riders was the “no lift” access. Everyone was really concentrating on the hydration and proper refueling during the day when they had to pedal to all the stages."
“Competition took place at the Messilä skiing hill with 9 stages and the challenge for the riders was the “no lift” access. Everyone was really concentrating on the hydration and proper refueling during the day when they had to pedal to all the stages.”
"More than 250 daredevils really enjoyed the first three stages which where done twice and the first stage three times."
“More than 250 daredevils really enjoyed the first three stages which where done twice and the first stage three times.”

During the exhausting day, the top four riders were battling head to head all day. Overall winner of the event was 18 years old, Petteri Leivo, who won six stages out of nine and at the finish had a gap to second place finisher Ville Tuppurainen, with only two seconds. Third place went to Juhani Kettunen who was fives seconds behind Leivo.

“- It was all in all a really heavy day. In the morning I had a strange feeling… What is going to happen? But throughout the day that feeling improved. Of course, that the race was so heavy was influenced by the fact that lifts were not used, Said Leivo at the finish line.”
“- It was all in all a really heavy day. In the morning I had a strange feeling… What is going to happen? But throughout the day that feeling improved. Of course, that the race was so heavy was influenced by the fact that lifts were not used, Said Leivo at the finish line.”

In the women’s series there were ten participants, many of them were first-timers. The victory was settled between two riders, Kaisa Härkönen and Anna Ojala. Ojala dominated the start of the day. But on the stage number four, the most technical one, Härkönen made a big mistake at the end of it, and she got really frustrated. After that frustration she managed to improve her riding, which lead to the victory with a 29-second difference to Ojala.

“I’m super happy, this was my first win for a really long time, said Härkönen.”
“I’m super happy, this was my first win for a really long time, said Härkönen.”

Third place was won in a heated battle between Salla Oksanen and Hanna Melkko. Eleven seconds separated the girls at the finish line on which Salla drew the longer straw and came third.

Petteri Leivo, Ville Tuppurainen and Juhani Kettunen took to the podium
Petteri Leivo, Ville Tuppurainen and Juhani Kettunen took to the podium
For the Women, Kaisa Härkönen took a surprising win
For the Women, Kaisa Härkönen took a surprising win

Results:

Men:

  • 1. Petteri Leivo 16:52
  • 2. Ville Tuppurainen 16:54
  • 3. Juhani Kettunen 16:57

Junior Men:

  • 1. Petteri Leivo 16:52
  • 2. Atte Atrava 18:24
  • 3. Oskar Vuori 19:27

Women:

  • 1. Kaisa Härkönen 22:28
  • 2. Anna Ojala 22:57
  • 3. Salla Oksanen 23:36

    • For more info visit:www.mtb-enduro.net

    Words & Photos: Courtesy of mtb-enduro

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