The 2026 Orienteering World Cup got off to a great start on Friday afternoon in Locarno, Switzerland, with Hanna Lundberg (SWE) and Tino Polsini (SUI) winning the individual sprint that kicked off the new season.
The combination of the picturesque old town, challenging courses, beautiful sunny weather and an intense atmosphere on Locarno’s main square created the perfect setting for the first international race of 2026.
Tino Polsini after crossing the finish at Piazza Grande in Locarno. Photo: Simon Buser
And for Tino Polsini, the new World Cup season started as the last one ended: with a win. The Knock-Out Sprint winner from the World Cup Final in Uster narrowly beat Tomáš Křivda (CZE) by one second today, while Yannick Michiels took third place 14 seconds behind the winner.
Men’s top 3 under the sun in Locarno.
Polsini had fast split times all the way around the 3.9 kilometer course, but Křivda took the lead after the longest leg of the course to control 12 with the fastest route choice. However, on the last handful of short legs, the Swiss was supreme and thus managed squeeze past the Czech, who won the individual World Cup Sprint in Uster in the fall.
Hanna Lundberg in full focus on her way to the win. Photo: Silvan Schletti
In the women’s race, Hanna Lundberg was clearly the strongest today and won clearly by a margin of 20 seconds. European champion Pia Young Vik (NOR) delivered another impressive performance and came in second, while the last starting home favorite Simona Aebersold did great on the last part of the course and took the last place in the top 3, six seconds further behind.
Vik, Lundberg and Aebersold on the podium.
Full results, GPS-tracking and split times can be found at IOF LIVE
The World Cup Round continues Saturday afternoon, where the Sprint Relay kicks off at 16:10 CEST (UTC+2).
The high quality TV broadcast is available with English commentary at IOF TV, while start lists, live results and GPS-tracking can be found in IOF LIVE
Top results
Women
1 Hanna Lundberg, SWE 15:15
2 Pia Young Vik, NOR +0:20
3 Simona Aebersold, SUI +0:26
4 Tereza Rauturier, CZE +0:28
5 Natalia Gemperle, SUI +0:36
6 Andrine Benjaminsen, NOR +0:37
Men
1 Tino Polsini, SUI 13:44
2 Tomáš Křivda, CZE +0:01
3 Yannick Michiels, BEL +0:14
4 Tuomas Heikkilä, FIN +0:23
5 Zoltan Bujdoso, HUN +0:26
6 Isac von Krusenstierna,S WE +0:29