Skiers Hold 2nd Tartu Relay Marathon Ahead of Main Event
Braving heavy snowfall, the four-member AIROK Team finished first in the second Tartu relay marathon on Sunday.
The winning team - made up of Morten Priks, Eeri Vahtra, Janari Rajas, Avo Sambla - set a time of 2:39:27, beating out last year's winner, Biathlon/Squeezy, by around seven minutes. Third-place taker CFC Spordiklubi came in another five minutes later.
The 63-kilometer course had four stages, running through the towns of Otepää, Matu, Ande, Kuutse, Palu, Hellenurme and Elva.
A total of 155 teams competed in the relay, which was held for the second time and is one of the warm-up events for the 42nd Tartu Marathon, a stage in the FIS Marathon Cup (FMC), on February 17.
Last week, organizers announced that 8,300 participants from 28 countries had signed up for the marathon, which has a 63-kilometer and 31-kilometer race, the first being the more popular of the two.
Among the top contenders will be Anders Aukland of Norway, currently leading the FMC 2013 and a two-time winner of the Tartu Marathon. Jerry Ahrlin of Sweden, another two-time winner, and Stanislav Rezac of the Czech Republic, a one-time victor, will also be in the race.
Estonian Raul Olle has so far been the only male to win the marathon on three occasions.
In the women's lineup, Sandra Hansson of Norway is seeking a fourth win.