ARWC2026 Champions Estonia ACE / La Sportiva
The concluding trek at ARWC2026
Commencing the final leg of ARWC2026
After competing in their ninth World Championship, the Estonian squad has overcome previous setbacks to claim victory in the world’s most demanding sport.
Right from the outset, the Race Director’s intent was clear; each segment was designed to be lengthy and tough, frequently requiring complex navigation.”— Rain Eensaar – Team Estonia ACE / La SportivaBENTONVILLE, AR, UNITED KINGDOM, October 7, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Following an intense evening of competition where the Estonians assumed the lead, a morning characterized by downpours and thunderstorms, and a concluding packraft segment along the shoreline to L'Île-Rousse, the Estonia Ace La Sportiva squad emerged victorious at the 2026 Adventure Racing World Championship held in Corsica.
With over 125 hours of uninterrupted racing that involved switching between trekking, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting, rope work, orienteering, and canyoning across a 500 km route traversing several of the most renowned natural landmarks of the “Island of Beauty,” the Estonians exited their packrafts, lifted their arms skyward, and crossed the finish line marked on the sand at 14:45:22.
This pivotal moment signified not only the conclusion of one of the most grueling Adventure Racing World Championships ever held and the peak of an extraordinary athletic achievement. It also fulfilled a two-decade-long pursuit: the pursuit of a global title.
Consisting of Rain Eensaar, Reeda Tuula-Fjodorov, Timmo Tammenae, and Tauno Riiback, the team had recently secured the ARWS European Championship in Denmark, ranked second globally, and already had multiple expedition race victories to their name. Their triumph in Corsica thus came as no shock. However, the Estonians had previously finished as runners-up twice at the World Championships and had frequently been in winning positions only to have victory elude them before the endpoint. For their ninth World Championship attempt, they finally set aside earlier disappointments and demonstrated they possess all the qualities required to be champions in one of the most grueling sports globally.
A Victory Decided in the Final Phases
After leading on the second day of racing, they fell behind as the French squads Luberon MUC and 400Team Altore assumed the front position. Yet following the extended trek across the island’s tallest summits, which required over 33 hours to finish, the Estonians started to reduce the distance between themselves and the two French teams.
During the sixth night of racing, they passed a struggling Luberon MUC team before starting the last 39km trek along the Agriates coastline.
This portion took considerably longer than anticipated due to exceptionally challenging nighttime navigation to locate the various checkpoints. 400Team Altore then committed an error, which allowed the Estonians to move into first place.
The Winning Team’s Account
At the finish line, Rain Eensaar shared: “ We began the final trek without certainty that we could overtake a team as formidable as 400Team Altore. Then we figured: why not? We spotted their headlamps drawing nearer and we caught them at a checkpoint. Afterward, we took different paths. We picked a good route – many of those shown on the map didn't actually exist – and, by the final transition before the packraft, we held the lead. ”
Reeda Tuula-Fjodorov revealed: “ It’s hard to put into words, but this time it felt different. Tauno came aboard to fill in for our regular teammate, Silver Eensaar. We claimed the European title, and then we arrived to race here. He questioned why we do all this and what we are truly seeking in these competitions. After all these years, I found myself asking that same question again. ”
Tauno Riiback initially joined only as a replacement, but his presence injected fresh energy into this highly seasoned group. "Ace Adventure has long been an inspiration to me, and I aimed to reach a standard that would let me join them. When the chance came up, I took it ," he stated.
He is now a world champion.
The Adventure Racing World Championship will go on for another 2 days as the remaining teams head toward the finish at L’Ile Rousse, and you can track their progress via live satellite tracking and regular social media posts.
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Media Director
Adventure Racing World Series
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Day 6 at the 2026 Adventure Racing World Championship
