Pivors and Ermane-Marčenko fastest in Latvian-Lithuanian MTB XCC championship

On Saturday, the combined Latvian and Lithuanian XCC cross-country championship took place in Sigulda, attracting nearly 200 participants. This was the fourth year the two countries have held joint competitions. Although several short but heavy rain showers occurred during the race, they did not significantly affect the athletes' performance. The track length was 850 meters, featuring two notable descents, two climbs, and one drop at the end.

In the combined men's elite, junior, amateur (19–34), and Masters 1–2 race, Kristers Celitāns, Alvis Pivors, and Lithuanian Ignas Ambrazas set the pace from the start. Celitāns crashed at the end of the first lap but quickly recovered and caught the leaders. Midway through the distance, Pivors broke away and finished first overall with a time of 19 minutes and 23 seconds. Celitāns finished second, becoming the Latvian elite champion, while Ambrazas took third and became the Lithuanian elite champion. In the junior category, Valters Jonass won silver by beating Evert Meijer. Nauris Zviedris claimed elite silver, and Kārlis Batalcis earned bronze after a tight battle with Edgars Ābols. The overall amateur champion was Ģirts Cirvelis.

In the combined women's, U23, amateur (19–34), and men's M3+ race, Lithuanian Artūras Remeika was the fastest overall, followed by Mārtiņš Puriņš, who won the Latvian M3+ category. Puriņš was ahead of Lauris Celitāns and Renārs Zaļeskis. In women's elite, Evelīna Ermane-Marčenko dominated, lapping second-placed Amanda Reilija Zariņa. Evija Ziediņa came third. In junior girls, Lauma Lange won.

The evening session featured XCO cross-country for M16, W16, and M14 groups, where Latvian youngsters dominated. In M16, Olivers Šika won with a time of 43 minutes and 49 seconds, marking his best cross-country race of the season. Ralfs Zaļeskis finished second, and Oskars Pauls Štrauhmanis third. In M14, Tomas Pekuss unexpectedly won, ahead of Adrians Purlaurs and Ralfs Kaļveršs. In W16, Samanta Celitāne secured a convincing victory.