The SkiO athletes had the middle distance in front of them at the second day of the European Ski Orienteering Championships in Madona, Latvia.
In the men’s class Linus Rapp (SWE) had a close to perfect race and won by a clear margin of 37 seconds. He overtook the lead after a fast route choice to control 8 and stayed in front all the way through the 8,4 kilometer course in Madona.
Behind him Aapo Viippola and Niklas Ekström fought a fierce Finnish battle for the silver all through the course, with Viippola as the victor by two seconds. Ekström’s bronze was his second in two days.
Eevert Toivonen (FIN) captured the fourth place one second in front of Jørgen Baklid (NOR) who had the lead early on but ended in fifth position. Nicola Müller (SUI) was sixth as in the sprint.
Second gold for Kudre Schnyder
Daisy Kudre Schnyder continued showing excellent form after yesterday’s win and took another ESOC gold today in the women’s class. The Estonian kept clear of time losses and extended the lead to the closest opponents on the last half of the course to win by a minute.
Sweden’s Frida Sandberg skied safely in to second place, with Anna Ulvensøen (NOR) securing the bronze 36 seconds slower.
Lisa Larsen (SWE), Maria Hoskari (FIN) and Evelina Wickbom (SWE) followed in the subsequent places on the podium.
Six different nations went home with a gold medal as Alina Niggli (SUI) and Teodor Mo Hjelseth (NOR) was junior world champions and Johanna Naskali (FIN) and Ritvars Lepeskins (LAT) became European youth champions today.
Find the TV-stream, GPS-tracking and split times from today’s race at IOF LIVE.
After a well deserved rest day, the athletes take on the mass start on Friday.
Follow the race from 09.55 EET (UTC +2) at IOF LIVE.
Photo: Agris Veckalniņš /ESOC 2023