Denmark’s Nikoline Splittorff and Krystof Bogar from Czech Republic took convincing victories as the World Mountain Bike Orienteering Championships in Sweden got underway with the Middle Distance.
In the women’s class, Splittorff beat fellow Dane Camilla Søgaard by 53 seconds with Sweden’s Nadia Larsson six seconds further behind.
The course was 11,5 kilometer and offered a technically demanding course with many decisions to make in the relatively fast terrain around Säter.
– I didn’t make any real mistakes, but I had to do some stops to take the time to read the map. I don’t usually do that, so it was definitely demanding, Splittorff said to the Danish Orienteering Federation after her victory.
In the men’s class, Krystof Bogar’s victory was even more superior, as he beat Samuel Pokala (FIN) with 58 seconds. Jan Hasek claimed another medal for Czech Republic by finishing third, 1.39 behind Bogar on the 13,5 kilometer course.
– I did a very good race. I started with a confident pace and tried to speed up at the finish at the last, difficult controls and I think the result says it all, Bogar said after his race.
Watch the tv stream from today’s race and dive into results and split times at IOF LIVE.
With the victory, Nikoline Splittorff is now tied with Camilla Søgaard for the first place in the CX 80 World Cup with 140 points. Gabriele Andrasiuniene (LTU) is third with 121 points.
Vojtech Ludvik (CZE) was fourth today and leads the men’s CX 80 World Cup 10 points ahead of Simon Braendli (SUI). Today’s silver medalist, Samuel Pokala is two points behind Braendli in third spot.
CX 80 World Cup Standings can be found here
The junior athletes raced for Middle distance medals as well today, and Kaarina Nurminen (FIN) crushed the rest of the W20 field by winning with a 2.36 minute margin ahead of fellow Finn Silja Ylihietanen. Sweden’s Tilda Palm got the bronze.
Hannes Hnilica (AUT) won the M20 class by more than a minute, Flurin Schnyder (SUI) and Flex Silver (SWE) shared the silver medal.
The MTBO athletes will get back on their bikes Saturday morning for the relays.
Follow the TV stream from 10.00 CEST (UTC +2) at IOF LIVE.
Results
Women
1. Nikoline Splittorff, DEN 53:02
2. Camilla Søgaard, DEN 53:55
3. Nadia Larsson, SWE 54:01
4 Emily Benham Kvale, GBR 54:27
5 Henna Saarinen, FIN 54:56
6 Ruska Saarela, FIN 55:06
6 Gabriele Andrasiuniene, LTU 55:06
Men
1. Krystof Bogar, CZE 52:15
2. Samuel Pokala, FIN 53:13
3. Jan Hasek, CZE 53:54
4. Vojtech Ludvik CZE 54:12
5. Miika Nurmi, FIN 54:15
6. Lauri Malsroos, EST 54:16
Photos: Lars Gustafsson