With six consecutive competition days, the Junior World Gliding Championships in Elchingen are entering their decisive phase
The young pilots competing in the 14th Junior World Gliding Championships in Elchingen have just completed six consecutive days of competition. Six days filled with intense concentration, tactical decisions and hours of flying over several hundred kilometers. Now the second half of the World Championships has begun and the gaps at the top are incredibly tight.
Longer routes were scheduled for both classes. The pilots had to demonstrate their flying skills, tactical awareness, and stamina. Most importantly, all participating pilots returned safely. The outcome of the World Championship remains wide open. The results could still change significantly over the coming competition days. In the Club Class, the task on the sixth competition day covered 268.42 kilometers. The route went from Aalen eastwards toward Denkendorf, from there via Dietfurt past the Franconian Lake District to Schillingsfürst and back to Aalen. Filip Teo Vidovic from Slovenia secured the day’s victory. Flying his DG 300, he completed the task in 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 32 seconds. That corresponds to an average speed of 106.28 km/h. He received 810 points. Michaela Křížová from the Czech Republic reached second place in her ASW-20. She completed the task in 2:24:18 hours achieving an average speed of 111.61 km/h. Close behind her was her compatriot Jan Stastny also flying an ASW 20. The top German pilot also held his own among the leaders: Nils Zitzelsberger achieved an average speed of 107.37 km/h in his LS 7 neo and scored 787 points.
It is particularly exciting to look at the overall results after six competition days: Nicolas Caudrelier of France currently leads the Club Class with 4,517 points. Just 19 points behind him is Max Scutchings of Australia with 4,498 points. Third place is held by Gael Pischedda of France with 4,483 points. This is where things especially get interesting from a German perspective: Nils Zitzelsberger is in fourth place with 4,413 points. The gap between the top four pilots remains relatively small. So, the race is far from being decided. Every single day of competition could shake up the results once again. Perhaps a German pilot will actually make it onto the coveted podium in the end? In any case, the starting position is exciting and the upcoming competition days will show who can best withstand the pressure in the final phase.
Flying was fast in the Standard class as well. A total of 290.05 kilometers had to be covered. The task was flown as a Racing Task. From Aalen to Tuttlingen, from there directly north to Plettenberg and back across the Swabian Alb to the final turning point in Ulm, and on to Aalen. Phillip Jonker from South Africa took the stage victory in an LS 8. He completed the 290.05 kilometers in 2 hours, 21 minutes, and 38 seconds, achieving an impressive average speed of 122.88 km/h. With 744 points, he secured first place for the day. Oliver Ramsay from Great Britain followed in second place, also flying an LS 8. He completed the course in 2:23:40 hours and achieved an average speed of 121.14 km/h. After six competition days, Lasse Edslev from Denmark continues to lead the Standard Class with 3,991 points. Just four points behind him is his compatriot Jacob Bøgelund Lassen with 3,987 points. Third place is Barna Hadi from Hungary with 3,964 points. Here, too, it’s clear: the results are tight, and the World Championship is far from being decided.
Six days at full speed and now it’s time to catch a breath. After six consecutive days of competition, the sports director has decided to take a break: Sunday is a day off. No competition stress, no pre-flight preparations, no tasks spanning several hundred kilometers. Instead, it’s time for the juniors to relax, recharge their batteries, and clear their minds. The action will resume soon. That’s when the critical phase of this World Championship will finally begin.
Results on SoaringSpot
