The final battle for the 2024 Orienteering World Cup titles takes place in Kuopio, Finland from Thursday to Sunday.
The forest races count as the fourth round in this year’s Orienteering World Cup, which has previously taken us to fast and demanding sprint races in Switzerland and Italy and most recently a series of tough races for the European Orienteering Championships in Hungary in August.
However, a completely different challenge awaits in the forests around Kuopio in eastern Finland, which also hosts the 2025 World Orienteering Championships next year in July.
The Finnish terrain here is relatively flat with no steep slopes or high cliffs and has both areas with many details and some with few details to navigate in.
The World Cup final begins on Thursday morning with the long distance, on Friday there is a rest day before Saturday’s middle distance. On Sunday, the relays conclude the international orienteering season.
Close to 300 athletes from 32 different nations have entered the races in Finland.
Aebersold eyeing first World Cup title
In the women’s World Cup, there may be a change of throne on the way, as Simona Aebersold (SUI) has a clear lead after the first five World Cup races this year. She has impressively grabbed two first places and three second places and therefore has 440 points.
The closest pursuer is compatriot Natalia Gemperle with 370 points, while Tove Alexandersson (SWE), who has won the overall World Cup nine years in a row, has 337 points in third place.
Then there is a gap of more than 100 points to Andrine Benjaminsen (NOR) in fourth place, while Hanna Lundberg (SWE) and Venla Harju (FIN) are fifth and sixth respectively.
Fosser leads by 80 points
On the men’s side, Kasper Fosser (NOR) looks to be well on his way to his third World Cup title after his gold and silver at the EOC in Hungary in August. The Norwegian has 317 points, while the sprint world champion Martin Regborn is the closest pursuer with 237 points. Emil Svensk follows with 212 points. Then there is a close race between Daniel Hubmann (SUI), 198 points, Eirik Langedal Breivik (NOR), 194 points and Joey Hadorn (SUI), 190 points in fourth, fifh and sixth position.
Switzerland has a solid lead in the Team World Cup competition, which Sweden has won since 2019. Switzerland has 3455 points, Norway follows with 3296 points, while the title holders from Sweden have 3073 points in third position.
Find full World Cup standings here
The competitions from Finland can all be followed through a high-quality TV production on a number of national broadcasting channels and IOF TV, where commentary is provided in English and German.
Katherine Bett and Jonas Merz take care of the English commentary, while Lukas Deininger and Philipp Sauter guide the viewers through in German.
It costs 9/25 EUR for access to one/all races.
All times: EEST (UTC +3)
YLE (Finland), SVT (Sweden), NRK (Norway) and TV8 Mont Blanc (France) broadcast the competitions.
2024 World Cup Final Program
All times: EEST (UTC +3)
Thursday, September 26
Long distance
09:29 First start men
09:56 First start women
12:30 – 16:30 TV Broadcast
Saturday, September 28
Middle distance
09:40 First start women
10:25 First start men
12:30 – 16:00 TV Broadcast
Sunday, September 29
Relay
10:50 – 15:00 TV Broadcast
10:59 Start men
13.02 Start women