After a day of rest on Friday, the world’s best orienteers left the narrow streets of Ceska Lipa and went to the hilly Kokořínsko forest for the third World Cup race this week on Saturday afternoon.
A middle distance with lots of sandstone details and many meters to climb along the way was on today’s programme together with a first time winner in the men’s class, as it turned out.
Strong finish by Alexandersson
The women were first out into the forest and had 4,2 kilometers with 270 meters to climb ahead of them.
Despite losing some time on the first controls, Tove Alexandersson (SWE) took her 44thWorld Cup win by a clear margin – Simona Aebersold (SUI) was 1.07 minutes behind in second place.
Alexandersson’s speed on the last half of the course was second to none and left her with enough lead to lose time to control 16 without jeopardizing the win.
Behind Alexandersson and Aebersold, Sanna Fast and Sara Hagström fought a pure Swedish fight for the third place with Fast coming out stronger by two seconds. That’s Sanna Fast’s best World Cup result by far.
Two minutes further down Marie Olaussen (NOR) and Teresa Janosikova (CZE) was fifth and sixth respectively.
Austrian success
In the men’s class with 5,1 kilometers and 350 meters climb Austrian Orienteering experienced yet another moment of success as Jannis Bonek won his first ever World Cup race.
Exactly three weeks after his middle distance bronze medal at World Orienteering Championships in Switzerland, Bonek made a flawless performance in the tough terrain and won by 37 seconds.
Behind him, European middle distance champion Albin Ridefelt (SWE) beat newly crowned World champion of middle distance, Matthias Kyburz (SUI) in the fight for second place.
Kasper Fosser (NOR) was five seconds slower than Kyburz, while there was about half a minute down to fifth place Lucas Basset (FRA) and sixth Olli Ojanaho (FIN).
Go to IOF LIVE for GPS-tracking and results
The athletes will have another chance to prove themselves in the sandstone terrain, when the long distance ends World Cup Round 2 Sunday.
First start is around 8.35 CEST (UTC+2) and IOF TV broadcasts from 11.00 – 15.30.
Top 6 results
Women
- Tove Alexandersson, Sweden 34:19 minutes
- Simona Aebersold, Switzerland +1:07
- Sanna Fast , Sweden +1:31
- Sara Hagstrom, Sweden +1:33
- Marie Olaussen, Norway +3:23
- Tereza Janosikova, Czechia +3:32
Men
- Jannis Bonek, Austria 37:04 minutes
- Albin Ridefelt, Sweden +0:37
- Matthias Kyburz, Switzerland +0:43
- Kasper Harlem Fosser, Norway +0:48
- Lucas Basset, France +1:14
- Olli Ojanaho, Finland +1:25
Photos: Tomas Bubela