It was hot, difficult and thrilling when the first world champions were crowned in Genoa, Italy on Tuesday afternoon in the individual sprint discipline.
After a challenging sprint course in the afternoon heat, Kasper Fosser (NOR) became the men’s world champion before Simona Aebersold (SUI) took her first WOC title in the Sprint by a gigantic margin.
Tricky courses
The difficulty had been turned up compared to the morning’s qualification, but it was the same packed arena in the western district of Sestri Ponente that hosted the World Championship final in the Sprint.
After a great WOC opening ceremony with 45 flags from the participating nations on stage, the competitions could begin.
And it was the men who were first out in the narrow streets and extremely detailed maps and course layouts, where you had to keep a cool head to avoid losing time.
The future world champion Kasper Fosser also started his course with a small mistake right at the starting point, which he however made up for in great style along the way.
And the spectators in Genoa and TV viewers around the world were able to follow a competition in which almost all runners had time losses and were far behind in speed in order to navigate properly between stairs, walls and green areas.
Exciting finish
And towards the end it got really exciting. First, Zoltan Bujdoso (HUN) took over the lead for a few minutes, before Guilhem Verove (FRA) beat his time. Tuomas Heikkilä came into second place, and then the audience held their breath to see if either Tino Polsini (SUI) or Kasper Fosser could wrest the gold from the Frenchman.
But Polsini lost time in the route choice legs towards the finish, while Fosser had such a big lead towards the end that he had time to make up for a small loss of time and win anyway.
It is Fosser’s second WOC title in the Sprint (the first was in 2022), while Verove won his first WOC medal ever with the silver. Heikkilä’s bronze is his first individual medal at a world championship.
Kasper Fosser on the final meters in front of the enthuastic crowd in Genova. Photo: Kristina Lindgren
The Aebersold-show
After such a nail-biting affair, the women’s competition took on a completely different character, because it was already clear early in the race that Simona Aebersold was on her way to crushing the competition.
Already at the first control, the Swiss woman led by two seconds and she increased that lead all the way to the finish line – without looking back.
When Aebersold crossed the finish line, she led by over two minutes over her closest pursuer, Ane Dyrkorn of Norway.
Simona Aebersold was in a class of her own on today’s Sprint in Genova. Photo: Kristina Lindgren
Then young Czech Lucie Dittrichova, who has four JWOC gold medals on her CV, had her big breakthrough on senior level when she crossed the finish line in second place.
Only European Champion Pia Young Vik (NOR) managed to beat Dittrichova’s time by seven seconds and push her down to third place.
But the gap from Aebersold to Young Vik was an enormous 1 minutes and 11 seconds.
The World Orienteering Championships continue on Thursday, where the qualification for the Knock-Out Sprint is held.
The race starts at 9:00 CEST (UTC+2) – and can be followed for free in IOF TV.
Leading results
Women
1 Simona Aebersold, SUI 15:59
2 Pia Young Vik, NOR +1:11
3 Lucie Dittrichova, CZE +1:18
4 Tereza Rauturier, CZE +1:47
5 Hanna Lundberg, SWE +1:48
6 Ane Dyrkorn, NOR +2:02
Men
1 Kasper Harlem Fosser, NOR 16:11
2 Guilhem Verove, FRA +0:13
3 Tuomas Heikkilä, FIN +0:18
4 Zoltan Bujdoso, HUN +0:22
5 Tino Polsini, SUI +0:26
6 Francesco Mariani, ITA +0:35