Janika Lõiv, the reigning Estonian champion, achieved a commendable second place at the GP Internacional Gandeleda-Gredos international mountain biking competition held in Spain on Sunday. She finished the race with a time just 29 seconds behind the champion, Spain's Estibaliz Sagardoy Zunzarren, who clocked 1:26.52. Another competitor from Estonia, Maribel Rannala, secured the 16th position, finishing with a time of +15.23 minutes behind Lõiv.

In an interview following the race, Lõiv explained her conservative start, indicating her lack of recent focus on competitive training. This cautious approach led to challenges, particularly as two of her competitors frequently attempted to block her during the race, allowing Sagardoy to create an early lead. Lõiv also noted the difficult conditions of the racing trail, which was narrow and muddy, forcing her to run in certain sections, further complicating her strategy.

Despite the challenges, Lõiv expressed a positive outlook regarding her running form, which she felt was superior to that of her competitors. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, even amidst the difficulties encountered during the race. Lõiv hopes to improve her cycling performance further as she continues her training for future competitions, showcasing her resilience and commitment to the sport.