Sweden’s women and Norway’s men became world champions when the relays concluded the World Orienteering Championships in Finland on Saturday afternoon.
Under a blazing sun, the women set off first below the ski jump hills and the iconic Puijo Tower and began a physically demanding relay.
Sweden was the pre-favourite and first-leg runner Hanna Lundberg also set off quickly on the hilly terrain. Along the way, she was joined by Norway’s Pia Young Vik, who ran an impressive first leg for the Norwegian team.
At the first exchange, it was actually the young Norwegian who was first – 10 seconds ahead of Lundberg and with a gap of one and a half minutes to Finland in third place.
From there, however, it was a Swedish show in orienteering, as Sanna Fasth took over for the Swedish team and extended the gap to Norway to more than two minutes. A strong run by Lucie Dittrichova ensured that the Czech Republic caught up with Norway, while the Finnish hosts fell back to fourth place.
Giving Tove Alexandersson a lead of over two minutes is rarely a good idea and there was no hesitation in Alexandersson’s waltz either, securing a rock-solid victory for Sweden, who took their fourth World Championship gold in a row in the relay today.
Hanna Lundberg, Tove Alexandersson and Sanna Fasth celebrate the relay gold. Photo: Kristina Lindgren
Behind her, Andrine Benjaminsen ran a great leg for Norway and held on to silver, while Switzerland’s Simona Aebersold overtook the Czech team and secured bronze for the Swiss.
Tereza Rauturier (CZE) sprinted past Venla Harju (FIN) in the battle for fourth place, while the Danish team took the last place in the top 6.
Dramatic last leg
Afterwards, it was the men’s turn, which, like the women’s, started with a strong Swedish outlay. Martin Regborn led on the first leg, but had a chasing group of teams behind him. And a small time loss shortly before the exchange meant that six teams came in with almost the same time. France with Mathieu Perrin was at the forefront of that group.
On the second leg, the favorite teams from Sweden, Switzerland and Norway quickly stood out. And after being together at the arena passage, the three teams took very different route choices that would prove to be decisive for the relay.
Wednesday’s middle distance world champion Eirik Langedal Breivik took the fastest route for Norway, Fabian Aebersold was second fastest for Switzerland, while Emil Svensk (SWE) lost time and let the home team from Finland get into the fight for the bronze medal.
Kasper Fosser did not look back when he took over the Norwegian lead, which he expanded to a secure Norwegian gold medal with a lead of two minutes. Matthias Kyburz (SUI) could not keep up, while the Swiss silver medal was not in danger at any time.
On the other hand, there was drama for third place. First, Max Peter Bejmer (SWE) lost his orientation after the arena passage and punched the wrong control, so Sweden ended up without a result. Almost at the same time, Miika Kirmula made a big mistake and was caught by France with Lucas Basset, who was otherwise nearly two minutes behind at the passage.
Kirmula and Basset followed each other towards the finish line, but in the end the Finn put in an irresistible sprint that secured the home nation a medal in the last possible attempt at the championships in Kuopio.
Estonia and Denmark followed in the last places in the top 6.
Results, GPS-tracking and photos in IOF LIVE