The first-ever World Championship Knock-Out Sprint takes place today in Fredericia, Denmark. This morning the Qualification heats have determined the 36 qualifiers for the Quarter-Finals, which start with the men’s at 16.00 CEST.
Four nations have come through with 6 qualifiers: Czech Republic, Great Britain, Sweden and Switzerland. Twenty-four nations in all have at least one qualifier – 18 nations in the women’s races and 19 in the men’s. Most of the fastest elite athletes have qualified successfully, but Joey Hadorn, Switzerland and Lucas Basset, France missed out. One of the favourites for a medal, Tim Robertson, New Zealand, just scraped through in 12th place in his heat.
Heat winners were: Women: Charlotte Ward GBR, Tove Alexandersson SWE, Simona Aebersold SUI. Men: Aston Key AUS, Jakob Edsen DEN, Matthias Kyburz SUI.
Jakob Edsen, Denmark on his way to winning his heat
There are six Quarter Finals for men and for women, six runners in each starting at 6-minute intervals. The 3 best in each Quarter Final go through to the Semi Finals. The weather here is fine and not too warm – ideal conditions for racing and spectating.
Megan Carter Davies, Great Britain was second in her qualification heat
Photos: Will Hollowell / IOF
A full analysis of the qualification outcomes nation by nation can be found in the Blog in IOF Live on this website. Full results lists from the Qualification can be found there too.