Celebrating excellence.Veronika Monika Stūriška, a BMX rider from Jaunpiebalga, has been honored with the “Best Cyclist of the Year” award by the Latvian Cycling Federation for the second consecutive year. Sandis Ākis, the LRF president, presented her with a letter of appreciation for her participation in the Olympic Games. This recognition follows a similar accolade given to road cyclist Toms Skujiņš. PHOTO: Maris Vancevičs
For the second year running, Veronika Monika Stūriška, a BMX rider hailing from Jaunpiebalga, has been crowned ”Best Cyclist of the year.”
The prestigious “Latvijas Riteņvhādesės balva” ceremony, held at the Ādaži Culture Center, saw Veronika take the stage multiple times. The event kicked off by honoring Latvian cyclists who represented their nation at the Paris Olympic Games, including Veronika and MTB rider Mārtiņš Blums, who joined the celebrations virtually. The ceremony also recognized Latvian BMX champions,as well as world and European titleholders.Veronika stood out as a consistent podium finisher in these competitions last year, securing first place in both the World and European Championships in the U23 category. Additionally,she clinched third place overall in the U23 World Cup standings.
The award was presented by Toms Grēviņš and Jānis Pētersons, prominent figures from “Radio Pieci” and key contributors to the “Dod Pieci” donation campaign. Following the event, Veronika shared her thoughts with “Druva,” reflecting on her emotions. When asked if she anticipated the award,she responded,”I suppose so! Last year was incredibly rewarding and successful,so I was genuinely expecting it. While it was a complete surprise the first time, this year I felt I truly earned it.”
She also acknowledged the weight of the recognition: “Watching the video at the event made me realize how much I’ve accomplished. Now, the challenge is to maintain that momentum and strive for even greater heights.” Veronika remains focused on defending her championship title and aiming for the overall World Cup victory, as she continues to compete in the U23 category this year and next.
This week also marked the “Three Star award” ceremony, where Ęirts Kātiņš, Veronika’s coach and head of the “Silva ziķeri” club, was honored. While Veronika expressed pride in her coach’s achievement,she admitted to feeling a tinge of disappointment at not being nominated in any category: ”I believe I gave my all last year. sure, I could have performed better at the Olympics, but just making it to Paris at 18 was a milestone. I felt I deserved a nomination, but ultimately, it was the jury’s call.”
With the new training season underway, Veronika is gearing up for the first World Cup events in June. Balancing her athletic pursuits with academics, she is currently pursuing a degree in business management at Vidzeme University.
