Noa Rafael Laake Claims Second Place at UEC BMX European Cup, Secures Second in Season Standings
Latvian BMX rider Noa Rafael Laake secured second place at the 12th stage of the UEC BMX European Cup in Zolder, Belgium, while also finishing second in the season’s overall standings, according to confirmed reports. Laake’s performance in the elite men’s category marked one of his most significant results of the season, trailing only Netherlands’ Raien Hartman in the final. Laake, competing under the team AKSSC Valmiera/BMX Mārupe, won his first two heats and reached the final after finishing second in the quarterfinals and third in the semifinals.
Other Latvian Athletes Shine in Multiple Categories
Anna Pedraudze, competing in the G15/16 girls’ category, finished eighth in the final, while Kārlis Pedraudzis, the only Latvian to reach the elite men’s semifinals, placed 11th. Pedraudzis had previously earned ninth place in an earlier stage of the competition. In the Challenge category, Latvia claimed 11 medals, including a victory for Jelgava’s Ģirts Jonkus in the M45–49 group. Jonkus also topped the season’s overall standings in his category. Armands Kāpiņš (M40–44) and Kristaps Ozoliņš (M35–39) secured second and fourth places, respectively.
Young Stars and Masters Achieve Key Results
In junior categories, B13 rider Tomas Zēbergs (RRS/BMX Rīga) claimed the season’s overall title, while Gustavs Ģigulis and Oskars Turkins finished fifth and sixth, respectively. In the B10 group, Rodrigo Miķelsons won the final, with Rojs Spore taking second. In the B8 group, Valters Balodis secured second, and Olivers Jakušenkoks finished seventh. Additional highlights included Adrija Štromberga’s third-place finish in the G11/12 girls’ category and Marta Deksne’s fifth in G9.
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