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"World Cup Aksaray, Turkey 2023"
Summary written by Ruth Jessop
Today’s 85 km task looked similar to yesterday’s but with a very different start and into-wind leg to the first turn point.
The big question today was where to take the start. Pilots initially headed for the Hasan Dagi volcano; that didn’t work very well so they headed out into the plains.
Initially it looked like mission impossible. However, working together as a gaggle they found the few thermals on offer, which actually turned out to be quite good. After that it just got better and better. They spread out a bit after turn point one only to regroup after turn point two.
There was a lot less wind than yesterday, which made it easier to get round the course. The thermals were strong and wide making it a typical Aksaray day.
From turn point two onwards it was quite processional, where it was best to stay with the gaggle. 20 km from goal Yassen decided to do what very few other pilots can do, leave a World Cup gaggle behind.
Yassen surfed the tomato fields at about 100m for what seemed like the last 4 km. Once inside of ESS he found another weak thermal which allowed him to drift with the wind into the goal field. Well done to Yassen taking a risk which paid off and thus winning his 17th Paragliding World Cup task!
In the franglais worlds of Loïs GOUTAGNY, today was ‘beaucoup de fun’.
The first 101 pilots made goal, and thus all flew the same distance, and gained the same distance points. Today’s winner is therefore the one with a combination of the best speed points and lead out points.
Top 3 speed point winners – the fastest pilots round the course
01:42:18: Yassen SAVOV flying at an average speed of 46.4 km/h
01:42:51: Petr KOSTRHUN
01:42:57: Daniel TYRKAS
Top 3 leading point baggers – those who were in the lead the most
167.9: Stan RADZIKOWSKI
167.1: Yassen SAVOV
163.2: Ferdinand VOGEL
Top 3 in the task
1: Yassen SAVOV
2: Ferdinand VOGEL
2: Petr KOSTRHUN
Best newcomer: Daniel VERGARA BRAVO (23)
Top 3 ladies in the task
1: Alexia FISCHER
2: Jenny ONEIL
3: Silvia BUZZI FERRARIS
Top 3 teams in the task
1: Chinese Taipei Gliding Sports Association
2: Ozone
3: Nearbirds
In the team competition the top two pilots in each team are scored and the second one gives the ranking. The highest placed second team pilot was Michal TALAVAŠEK flying for team Chinese Taipei Gliding Sports Association.
Tomorrow the armbands will be:
Yellow armband (overall race leader): Stan RADZIKOWSKI
Rose armband (leading lady): Alexia FISCHER
Green armband (most leading points): Stan RADZIKOWSKI
