Tomáš Křivda (CZE) took his first ever World Cup race win, while Simona Aebersold (SUI) crushed the competitors as this year’s World Cup Final kicked off with the sprint Friday afternoon.
On a chilly day in Uster, Switzerland, the 227 athletes were thrown into a fast-raced sprint in the northeast end of the host city.
Křivda was strongest
The men’s race was to be decided first and here home favourite Matthias Kyburz set an early fast time that gave him the lead, even though he hasn’t run many sprint races recently.
The eight-time world champion, who has also won the overall World Cup six times, announced earlier this week that he is ending his elite orienteering career in order to focus on the marathon.
And he was allowed to sit in the leaders’ chair at the Uster arena for quite some time. In fact, right up until sixth-last starter Tomáš Křivda blew past the finish line with a time that was four seconds faster. Křivda had a near flawless race and his time was also enough to be the fastest of the day on the flat course.
Yannick Michiels (BEL) was nine seconds behind the check and came in third.
Men’s podium. Photo: Kelén Klement
Behind them, Tuomas Heikkilä (FIN) made up for a few losses in the first short legs and came in fourth after a great finish.
WOC silver medallist Tino Polsini (SUI) was right in the thick of the action until controls 9 and 10, where he lost time and therefore finished in fifth place, which he shared with the defending World Cup title holder, Kasper Fosser (NOR).
Untouchable Aebersold
In the women’s race, it wasn’t nearly as exciting, as the leader in the World Cup standings, Simona Aebersold (SUI) flew away from the start and led the day’s competition from the second control.
Without any significant losses in time, Aebersold, who also started last, was a full 30 seconds faster than her closest pursuer, compatriot Natalia Gemperle.
The battle for second place was much closer, because in addition to Gemperle, European Champion Pia Young Vik (NOR) and Hanna Lundberg (SWE) were also within a few seconds of each other on the course.
Towards the end, however, Gemperle was fastest, Young Vik was third, four seconds behind, while Lundberg followed two seconds later in fourth place.
Women’s podium. Photo: Kelén Klement
The rest of the top 6 consisted of Frida Vikström (SWE), who came fifth, and Vilma von Krusenstierna (SWE) and Josefine Lind (DEN), who shared sixth place.
World Cup standings
With her win today, Simona Aebersold is certain to defend her World Cup title even before Sunday’s Knock-Out Sprint. The gap to Natalia Gemperle, who is new in second place, is 103 points. But the fight for second will be fierce, as there are only five points between Gemperle and Young Vik.
The fight for the men’s title looks to be a nail-biter. Max Peter Bejmer (SWE) still leads, but has only six points more than Tomáš Křivda, and Kasper Fosser follows just three points further down.
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The top 36 from both women’s and men’s races today will advance to Sunday’s Knock-Out Sprint quarter finals. First up is the Sprint Relay, which will be run on Saturday starting at 17:15 CEST (UTC +2).
The TV broadcast will be broadcast from 17:00 – 18:30.
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