World Cup leaders Daisy Kudre Schnyder, Estonia and Jørgen Baklid, Norway will face strong competition in the three races comprising the second round, starting on Saturday in Ruhpolding, Germany, a small town in the Alps very close to the border with Austria.
Kudre Schnyder is hard-pressed in the World Cup standings by Norway’s Anna Ulvensøen who is only 5 points behind, whilst Baklid has an easier task; he won all three of the first-round races on home territory, and leads by 40 points over Jonatan Ståhl, Sweden.
In the women’s standings, the top six places are held by athletes from five different nations; only Finland has two, both U-23: Amanda Yli Futka (3rd) and Maria Hoskari (5th). Finland stands even better in the men’s list, with three in the top six: Eevert Toivonen (4th), Niklas Ekstrӧm (U-23, 5th) and Aapo Viippola (6th). Alina Niggli, Switzerland is the only top-six athlete not from a Scandinavian nation.
63 men and 42 women from 14 nations have entered for this round, which takes place on three consecutive days using moderately hilly terrain, a mix of residential, forest and meadow areas. Despite being between 750 and 850 metres above sea level, the current snow situation in the areas is described as “challenging”, as the most recent major snowfall was in early January; some of the area’s artificial ski tracks will be used. Also, some of the tracks will be icy and stony.
This is also the venue for the World Masters Ski Orienteering Championships, which has three races, starting each day after the World Cup races on the same terrain.
Live results will be available on https://orienteering.sport/live/ and full official results will be published in IOF Eventor. Reports and leading results will be published each day on this website.
SkiO World Cup Round 2 – Race Schedule
Saturday 15 February: Sprint, first start 10.00 CET
Sunday 16 February: Middle, first start 10.00
Monday 17 February: Mass Start, men at 9.30 and women at 9.40