Tense battle in Tartu MTB Marathon ends with victory for Gert Kivistik
Gert Kivistik took the victory of 27. Tartu MTB Marathon with a powerful final sprint. Kivistik, who also works as the construction manager for Tartu Maraton, crossed the finish line just ahead of Lithuanian Eimantas Gudiškis, who placed second (+00:01), and Peeter Tarvis (+00:01).
"It was an incredibly emotional victory. Crossing the finish line brought immense relief, as my role as a participant and event organizer was justified," said Kivistik. "It’s been a mentally and physically demanding week of work, with training squeezed into the evenings. Even yesterday, the day ran long, and I wasn't sure how good my legs would be today," he added.
In the women's race, Mari-Liis Mõttus won with a time of 02:42:32. "With just 10 kilometers left, I knew the win was mine," said Mõttus, who secured an unexpected lead. "I've been sick several times this season, so I wasn’t fully confident in my form, but I came here determined to win," she noted. Latvian Katrina Jaunslaviete Kipure finished second (+04:05), while Ann-Christine Allik, the current leader of the Tartu Marathon Classic Series, took third place (+09:37).
Over 5,000 cyclists participated in the main and children's races over the weekend, with virtual races open for participation until September 22.
Full results can be found HERE.
The next event in the Tartu Marathon Classic Series is the Tartu City Marathon, taking place on October 5.