Golds for Sweden and Norway at thrilling EOC Relay

The tough, dense terrain in Estonia had already created thrilling Long and Middle distances in the prior days, and Sunday’s relays were no exception.

The Swedish women won by a huge margin and Norway’s men defended their EOC-gold from 2018.

The heavy rain from yesterday was gone and the sun was shining as the 41 teams in the women’s class lined up for the start at 10.05.

They were off to a dramatic start as two of the favorite teams, reigning champions SUI 1 and NOR 1, lost time at the first controls and ended up spending most of the relay catching up with the leading pack. FIN 1’s Miia Niittynen benefitted from a short forking at the end of leg 1 and went first into the exchange with NOR 2 and DEN 1 at her tail.

But the three leading teams all lost time in the difficult first couple of controls at leg 2 and paved the way for SWE 1 with Sara Hagström and CZE 1’s Adela Finstrlova to pass and create a decisive lead. Hagström kept cool all the way through her leg and was a minute ahead of Finstrlova at the exchange, with Finland 2 four minutes behind in third position.

Tove Alexandersson then ran a perfect third leg for SWE 1 and expanded the lead to CZE 1’s Tereza Janocikova to more than five minutes at the finish line – thereby winning the EOC Relay together with Lina Strand and Sara Hagström.

Janocikova ran her third leg all alone and kept the opponents behind her to secure a silver medal – the first ever EOC relay medal for Czechia’s women – with Vendula Horcickova and Adela Finstrlova.

Behind them SUI 1 and NOR 1 were back in business for the bronze medal fight. Saturday’s Middle distance champion Simona Aebersold appeared to create a crucial lead during her run, but a long forking and a small mistake towards the end opened the gap for Andrine Benjaminsen to snatch the bronze with team mates Ane Dyrkorn and Marie Olaussen.

Nervous start
The men’s relay with 52 teams saw a nervous start as well, with Saturday’s Middle distance champion Albin Ridefelt losing time at the first controls for SWE 1. However, SWE 2 with Henrik Johanneson had a great race and created a gap of 20 seconds to NOR 1, SWE 3 and LTU 1 at the first exchange.

Kasper Fosser quickly took over the lead for NOR 1 and after running close to SWE 2 and SWE 3, he ran one minute ahead of them on the last loop before the exchange. Florian Howald ran alone most of the leg and kept SUI 1 in fourth position and in contention for medals.

Eskil Kinneberg, who was also part of the Norwegian 2018 EOC Relay gold team, never looked back, avoided mistakes and expanded the Norwegian lead all the way to the finish line to win with Magne Daehli and Kasper Fosser.

Behind Kinneberg, SWE 2 (Emil Svensk) and SWE 3 (Max Peter Bejmer) fought for the silver medal with SUI 1’s Matthias Kyburz.

Bejmer took his own route choice to the last control that proved to be the fastest, securing silver medals for Sweden 3 and with Matthias Kyburz 10 seconds behind for Swiss bronze.

Watch the Web-TV, GPS-tracking and results at IOF LIVE.

The relays concluded the European Orienteering Championships and four exciting competition days, with challenging terrain and great races to follow.

EOC served as World Cup Round 2 as well – with Tove Alexandersson and Kasper Fosser now in the lead before the World Cup Final in Davos, Switzerland October 1-3. Go to the World Cup standings.

Photos: Donatas Lazauskas