Urban and Windisch back on top
JUDENBERG (AUT). With two familiar faces on top the podium, the ATSX Ice Cross World Championship kicked off its first post-COVID season. At the traditional season opener on the Winterleiten racetrack near Judenburg in Austria, Michal Urban from the Czech Republic and Austria’s own Veronika Windisch were once again unbeatable.
In the Men's category, Urban got his third win on his favorite track, where speeds of 70 km/h were reached through the speed section. Just behind him was the former Junior World Champion Mirko Lahti from Finland and, as a big surprise, Rijkard Van Wijhe from Sweden. The 37-year-old landed on the podium for the first time in his eleven-year career in Ice Cross, leaving strong athletes such as Leevi Nakari (FIN), Robin Worling (CAN) and Artur Richalet-Chadeur (FRA) behind.
In the women's category, local athlete Veronika Windisch won for the fourth time, this time ahead of Amandine Condroyer from France and Justine Zonne from Latvia.
At just 16 years old, Arkadiusz Kopa from Poland finished third in the Juniors’ category behind winner Linus Ollikainen from Finland and Jakob Begander from Austria.
The next races for the fastest sport on ice will be held on January 28th at Mont du Lac in the United States and Pra Loup in France.
Results:
Men: 1st Michael Urban (CZE), 2nd Mirko Lahti (POL), 3rd Richard Van Wijhe (SWE), 4th Leevi Nakari (FIN), 5th Robin Worling (CAN), 6th Arthur Richalet-Chadeur (FRA), 7th Jakub Oudes (CZE), 8th Lukasz Korzestanski (POL), 9th Max Nymark (FIN), 10th Robert Grochowicz (POL).
Women: 1st Veronika Windisch (AUT), 2nd Amandine Condroyer (FRA), 3rd Justine Zonne (LAT), 4th Alice Zenz (AUT), 5th Karolina Pflugova (CZE).
Juniors: 1st Linus Ollikainen (FIN), 2nd Jakob Begander (AUT), 3rd Arkadiusz Kopa (POL), 4th Arthur Richalet-Chadeur (FRA), 5th Arthur Fort (FRA).