In early September 2025, on Lake Saimaa, Lane4 Adventure completed the 250 km ARWS European Championship in 25 hours and 51 minutes, leading from start to finish. A continental victory on their homeland that secured their ticket to Corsica and confirmed what the European circuit had been anticipating for several seasons.
Brothers Jaakko and Ville Mäkelä have been racing together since their debut on the Finnish circuit, raised in the orienteering tradition of a country where reading a map in a dense forest is part of the national sporting culture. Two minds that share the same understanding of the field, capable of linking the most hidden control points without ever losing their way. Alongside them, Mikko Sakala is known for his endurance and his ability to maintain a high pace during long mountain bike transitions. Pauliina Pohja rounds out the quartet with a profile rarely seen in adventure racing: a seasoned trail runner and top-level navigator, she described the victory in Finland as “the fastest race she’s ever competed in, with many demanding stages,” which, coming from an athlete like her, speaks volumes about the intensity she’s capable of handling.
As they leave the Finnish wilderness for the wilds of Corsica, the new European champions aren’t making the trip to explore the island. They’re coming to see if their technical mastery, honed in one of the world’s most demanding navigation environments, can compete with the best teams on the planet.