Two of orienteering’s biggest names, Tove Alexandersson (SWE) and Kasper Fosser (NOR) convincingly won the long distance at the European Championships in Hungary.
After Saturday’s tough Middle final, it was time to saddle up again on Sunday morning and re-visit the steep slopes and many rock details for the Long distance.
The same arena was used today and besides the greater focus on route choices, it was still hot, steep and demanding orienteering in the central Hungarian forest with many details to keep track of.
Strong Alexandersson
From the last starting position, Tove Alexandersson made a show of force on the women’s course of 10,8 kilometers and 630 meters of climb.
Only Andrine Benjaminsen (NOR) had as fast split times after the first long leg to control 5 and on the following northern loop, Alexandersson ran straight to all controls with a higher pace than the competitors and paved the way for her win.
Alexandersson even caught a group with Simona Aebersold (SUI), Benjaminsen and Natalia Gemperle (SUI) on the long leg from control 14 to 15 and outran them on the last loop towards the finish.
Tove Alexandersson won her 10th EOC gold today. By William Hollowell
Behind her, yesterday’s champion Simona Aebersold was just over four minutes slower and took silver, while Benjaminsen claimed the bronze for the second day in a row, 6.51 minutes after Alexandersson.
Aebersold, Alexandersson and Benjaminsen at the flower ceremony. By William Hollowell
Then followed a gap of more than four minutes to Natalia Gemperle (SUI) in fourth, while only ten seconds divided Evely Kaasiku (EST) and Kamilla Steiwer (NOR) in fifth and sixth position.
It’s Alexandersson’s tenth EOC gold medal and her third Long distance title after winning it in 2018 and 2016 as well.
Fosser in control
Like Alexandersson, Kasper Fosser lived up to the favorite status by starting last in the men’s class with 13,9 kilometers and 850 meters of climb ahead of him.
Yesterday’s silver medalist kept a high speed and took fast routes all through the course and kept extending the lead.
At control 13 Fosser eventually caught Emil Svensk (SWE), who had started six minutes earlier and lost some time early on. After running together for some time, Svensk left Fosser behind at the end to finish in fourth position, but Fosser’s win was never in danger.
Fosser won by 3.44 minutes today. By William Hollowell
For a long time Fabian Aebersold (SUI) and Viktor Svensk (SWE) were in contention for a medal as they both had faster split times than Daniel Hubmann (SUI) and Miika Kirmula (FIN) after 79 minutes of running.
But both lost time on the last few controls, so Hubmann won silver (3:44 behind Fosser) ahead of Kirmula’s bronze medal 50 seconds further behind.
Hubmann, Fosser and Kirmula on the podium. By William Hollowell.
Aebersold and V. Svensk had to settle for fifth and sixth position.
It’s the first individual EOC win for Fosser, who holds the long distance title from the last two World Championships.
Hubmann’s silver comes 18 years after his first ever EOC-medal, a silver he won in Estonia in 2006 on the long distance as well.
Find full results, GPS-tracking and photos on IOF LIVE.
Tuesday is the last race day in Hungary and the relays begin in the afternoon.
Sweden is defending champion in the women’s class, while Norway holds the title from Estonia in 2022 among the men.
Follow both men and women on IOF TV from 14:00 – 18:00 CEST (UTC +2) with English and German commentary.