Heart-stopping finale at high speed

The final of the ATSX Ice Cross World Championship on the permanent race track in Winterleiten above Judenburg in Austria could not have been much more exciting. Last year's world champion from Canada, Robin Worling, and vice world champion Michael Urban from the Czech Republic still had a chance of winning the title. Urban had to win to do so, and Worling could not finish worse than third. Urban did his duty and took his fourth victory on his favorite track. Worling managed to finish third, however, and won the race despite being tied on points because he had won the higher-ranking race in Val Thorens in France.

The newcomer of the year is the American Jack Beatson. He not only won the world championship title in the juniors category but also came third in the overall men's ranking. "I'm overjoyed, but also completely exhausted," said the young man from North Carolina after a total of eight runs on the more than 400-meter-long course.

The women's races saw the usual duo at the top both in Winterleithen and in the World Championships. Local hero Veronika Windisch won clearly ahead of her long-time opponent Justine Zonne from Latvia. "I can hardly remember the last time I didn't win," laughed the series champion at the finish. In the North American duel, Sarah Seibold from the USA prevailed against Daisy Castonguay from Canada and secured third place.

The results: Men: 1. Michael Urban (CZE), 2. Richard Van Wijhe (SWE), 3. Robin Worling (CAN), 4. Laurent Goulet Garneau (CAN), 5. Kale Johnstone (USA), 6. Martin Nahlovsky (CZE), 7. Jack Beatson (USA), 8. Linus Ollikainen(FIN), 9. Jonathan Merlino(FRA), 10. Artur Fort (FRA);

Women: 1. Veronika Windisch (AUT), 2. Justine Zonne (LAT), 3. Sarah Seibold(USA), 4. Daisy Castonguay (CAN) and Amandine Condroyer (FRA),

Juniors: 1. Jack Beatson(USA), 2. Kevin Dupuis (SUI), 3. Wyatt Francoeur (USA), 4. Emerick Keller (FRA), 5. Stefan Vasjabel (CAN);