Estonia: Tartu Rattamaraton and Tartu Rattaralli
The Second Largest Mountain Bike Marathon in the World Takes New Heights
The second largest mountain bike marathon in the world, the Tartu Rattamaraton in Estonia, is taking new heights with 4444 registered participants after the first entry wave. According to the latest information people are arriving from 11 countries and this number will certainly grow in next weeks. The Race Director of SEB 13th Tartu Rattamaraton Indrek Kelk says that compared to last year they have taken again one step forward. “Last year by the same time 4217 people had registered for the race, so there is clear growth in numbers,” comments Kelk. What will be the result of the next entry waves and if the last years’ record will be broken is hard to tell adds Kelk.
The SEB 13th Tartu Rattamaraton offers 89 km and 40 km distances. Traditionally more people are interested in the longer race – this year 2884 participants have already signed up. The shorter distance has gathered 1560 mountain bike fans so far. Last year 5092 people from 19 countries registered for the two main distances and European Championships were also held on the 89 km track. According to organisers before mentioned participants number is the second best in the world after the famous Norwegian mountain bike marathon Birkenbeinerrittet.
SEB 13th Tartu Rattamaraton takes place on 19th of September in Estonia.The start will be given in Otepää from Tehvandi Sport Centre Stadium and the finish line waits near Elva at the Tartumaa Health Sports Centre. A day before the main races, children events take place in Tartu, the second biggest city in Estonia. Last year 1600 young biking fans participated in this event.
The SEB 13th Tartu Rattamaraton offers 89 km and 40 km distances. Traditionally more people are interested in the longer race – this year 2884 participants have already signed up. The shorter distance has gathered 1560 mountain bike fans so far. Last year 5092 people from 19 countries registered for the two main distances and European Championships were also held on the 89 km track. According to organisers before mentioned participants number is the second best in the world after the famous Norwegian mountain bike marathon Birkenbeinerrittet.
SEB 13th Tartu Rattamaraton takes place on 19th of September in Estonia.The start will be given in Otepää from Tehvandi Sport Centre Stadium and the finish line waits near Elva at the Tartumaa Health Sports Centre. A day before the main races, children events take place in Tartu, the second biggest city in Estonia. Last year 1600 young biking fans participated in this event.
More information about the program, track and registration can be found on www.tartumaraton.ee.
The last weekend in May brings thousands of cyclists to the roads of Estonia. Estonian Cycling Weekend covers three days with three races. The first one, Tallinn-Tartu Grand Prix 2010, takes professional riders from Tallinn to Tartu. The second one, Tartu Grand Prix 2010, offers professional riders unique opportunity to compete on the streets on Tartu. On the third day amateur riders join in and SEB 29th Tartu Rattaralli will be held on the roads of Southern-Estonia.
The Race Director of Estonian Cycling Weekend, Indrek Kelk says the event stands out from other cycling competitions by its wide target group. “It is quite unique that in one series of events professional and amateur riders as well as children have their own races. In addition to about 100-120 professionals we are expecting about 4000 amateurs and 2000 children to take part of Estonian Cycling Weekend,” explains Kelk. At the moment five Continental and nine National teams have registered for 180 km long Tallinn-Tartu Grand Prix 2010 ridden on Friday, 28th of May. The riders come from Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland and Ukraine. On Saturday, 29th of May the same teams start to 187 km long Tartu Grand Prix 2010 on the city circuit. On Sunday, 30th of May amateur riders join in to compete on SEB 29th Tartu Rattaralli. Organizers will prepare 133 km and 71 km tracks which will take the riders to the diverse landscapes of Sothern-Estonia.
The Race Director of Estonian Cycling Weekend, Indrek Kelk says the event stands out from other cycling competitions by its wide target group. “It is quite unique that in one series of events professional and amateur riders as well as children have their own races. In addition to about 100-120 professionals we are expecting about 4000 amateurs and 2000 children to take part of Estonian Cycling Weekend,” explains Kelk. At the moment five Continental and nine National teams have registered for 180 km long Tallinn-Tartu Grand Prix 2010 ridden on Friday, 28th of May. The riders come from Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland and Ukraine. On Saturday, 29th of May the same teams start to 187 km long Tartu Grand Prix 2010 on the city circuit. On Sunday, 30th of May amateur riders join in to compete on SEB 29th Tartu Rattaralli. Organizers will prepare 133 km and 71 km tracks which will take the riders to the diverse landscapes of Sothern-Estonia.
June, 1st: the Winner of SEB 29th Tartu Rattaralli is Vytautas Kaupas
The Winner of 133 km long SEB 29th Tartu Rattaralli is Vytautas Kaupas from Lithuania with 3:04:03 who beat Gediminas Bagdonas also from Lithuania (3:04:10) and Sigvard Kukk (3:04:12) from Estonia. The best three finished ahead of the big group. Vytautas Kaupas said winning the Tartu Rattaralli is a great honor. “I will do everything in my power to be here in next year,” says the winner who had great races on two previous days as well. The fastest Estonian Sigvard Kukk admitted that last 15 kilometers were very tough since the group was closing in and they had to push very hard to stay in front. Kukk finished on the third place last year as well. The best female rider on SEB 29th Tartu Rattaralli is Grete Treier from Estonia who crossed the finish line with 3:04:25 which gave her 38th place in overall standings. The weather was sunny, but wind broke the mass of cyclists into many groups pretty fast. After 75 kilometers seven men were leading the race. Later on three of them made a decisive breakaway and stayed in front till the finish.
On this year Tartu Rattaralli had a record number of registered participants. 2048 people registered for the 133 km distance and 1999 for the 71 km distance. That makes altogether 4047 registered riders of whom 3667 also started and finished their races. Both numbers mark the new records. Last year 3458 participants crossed the finish line. The Race Director of SEB 29th Tartu Rattaralli, Indrek Kelk says the event went well. “Tartu Rattaralli is growing along with skiing and running marathons. It’s proven by more than four thousand registered participants and more than two and a half thousand kids who took part of the children events. Different sports are continuously finding new fans,” adds Kelk. He also shares his gratitude for sponsors, organizers and all people who prefer active lifestyle.
Children events collected 2517 participants this year which is 600 more than last time. Some of the cyclers were doing their first meters on the track and needed their parents help to cover the distance, some were riding for a fifth consecutive year. All of them were focused and happy under the sunny sky. Altogether 6184 people from 14 countries crossed the finish line on different SEB 29th Tartu Rattaralli events. Last year the number was 5375.
Children events collected 2517 participants this year which is 600 more than last time. Some of the cyclers were doing their first meters on the track and needed their parents help to cover the distance, some were riding for a fifth consecutive year. All of them were focused and happy under the sunny sky. Altogether 6184 people from 14 countries crossed the finish line on different SEB 29th Tartu Rattaralli events. Last year the number was 5375.
The biggest cycling event in Eastern Europe, Estonian Cycling Weekend was started by Tallinn-Tartu Grand Prix 2010 a UCI Europe Tour class ME 1.1 event. The race brought joy to Denis Flahaut from France (ISD Continental Team) who won the group finish in front of Jaan Kirsipuu (CKT TMIT – Champion System) and Erki Pütsep (Estonian National Team).
Additional information about Estonian Cycling Weekend can be found from Club Tartu Maratons’ website www.tartumaraton.ee.