The second day of the European Off-Road Championships in Annecy was a great success for the Polish men’s team. Comprising Rafał Matuszczak, Dawid Malina, Marcel Fabian, and Miłosz Szcześniewski, the team clinched a silver medal in the challenging Trail Race, which covered 58.2 kilometers with significant elevation changes. Despite muddy conditions, the Polish runners excelled, with Matuszczak finishing fifth individually.
French Dominance on Home Soil
France dominated the event, sweeping the top three positions in both men’s and women’s races. Thomas Cardin secured the gold with a commanding lead, followed by Benjamin Roubiol and Loic Rolland. The Polish team’s consistent performance, with Malina finishing sixth and Fabian making a remarkable climb from 40th to 17th place, secured their place on the podium. Szcześniewski also contributed significantly, finishing 22nd.
The women’s race saw dramatic changes in leadership, ultimately won by Clementine Geoffray. Blandine L’Hirondel, the defending champion, settled for silver, and Adeline Martin took bronze. The Polish women’s team, led by Urszula Paprocka’s 13th place finish, performed admirably but missed out on the team bronze, finishing fourth behind Italy.