Marten Liiv won the 10th Tartu Inline Skating Marathon. Photo: Ardo Säks

There are five favourites for the 11th Tartu Inline Skating Marathon: four Estonians and Latvian Reinis Znotins.

Although last year’s champion and gifted speed skater Marten Liiv is on the start list, the race’s favourite should be Znotins who has beaten Liiv three times this season. „We’ll see on the race day what chances I will have against Znotins. I think it will be hard to get away from him in the middle of the race, but maybe I will have a chance in the final sprint,“ said Liiv. He added that besides Znotins the main skaters to keep an eye on should be Kert Keskpaik, Mart Markus and Kaspar Kaljuvee.

The events’ three times winner Kert Keskpaik will for sure try to say his word on the race’s outcome. „It’s hard for me to compete for the first place, but at the same time I think that it’s not impossible. One thing’s for sure: I can’t leave it to the final meters,“ said Keskpaik. „I believe that Znotins is the favourite. We have seen it on the stages of Rullituur where Estonians had difficulties competing against him,“ he added.

Among women last year’s winner Marina Zujeva from Belarus is not on the start list. Local favorite Saskia Alusalu, who finished last year’s marathon in second place will also not take part in this year’s marathon. So the main contestants for the title should be Russians Jevgenia Radionik and Julia Barakova and Estonians Diana Kaareste and Enel Kõrva. „A lot depends on what group each one of us will skate because it’s nearly impossible for women to get away from the group when we skate with men,“ said Kaareste.

7th Tartu Inline Skating Sprint and children’s races are going to take place tomorrow, August 19th. 11th Tartu Inline Skating Marathon is happening on Sunday, when supposedly around 1000 skaters are going to compete with each other.