Tereza Rauturier (CZE) and Guilhem Verove (FRA) are Knock-Out Sprint world champions after an eventful and thrilling afternoon in central Genoa.
Challenging courses, close decisions and an intense atmosphere in Piazza Matteotti helped create an exciting day for both spectators and TV viewers all over the world.
After Thursday’s qualification, it was already clear which 72 athletes would get a place in Friday’s quarter-finals.
Butterfly forking in QF
And the women were sent out first in their quarter-finals, which, like the men’s, consisted of courses with a three-loop butterfly forking early in the course.
Here, the athletes had the opportunity to try their hand at the relatively hilly urban terrain and a particularly tricky control in the southernmost loop cost time for a number of athletes.
Most of the favourites advanced, but in the quarterfinals, Grace Molloy (GBR), Natalia Gemperle (SUI), Jonatan Gustafsson (SWE), Eirik Langedal Breivik (NOR), Joey Hadorn (SUI) and the defending world champion Riccardo Rancan (SUI) were knocked out, among others.
Men’s semifinal athletes lining up on Piazza Matteotti. Photo: Kristina Lindgren
Multi-level challenges
The semifinal courses will undoubtedly go down in history, because the complex multi-level course along the way put the athletes’ map-reading skills to overtime.
In several races, the races came to a complete standstill, while the athletes tried to get an overview of the intricate route choices to control 5.
In the first women’s semifinal, one of the favorites and Tuesday’s world champion Simona Aebersold (SUI) was knocked out after she shortly ran towards the finish line instead of the arena passage. On the other hand, compatriot Lilly Graber advanced after an insistent sprint, overtaking Lucie Dittrichova (CZE), who seemed to have slowed down too early.
The next race was just as dramatic, as the big surprise of the spring, Hedvig Valbjørn Gydesen (DEN), came into close contact with Sweden’s Karolin Ohlsson in the sprint for the important second place. The race referee judged that Gydesen had impeded Ohlsson’s path towards the finish line, so Ohlsson got the final place, while the Dane was disqualified.
The men’s semi-finals were the last stop for Kasper Fosser (NOR), who ran wrong on the very last legs after leading semi-final 2, which also became dramatic because Zoltan Bujdoso (HUN) jumped a control, while Fabian Aebersold (SUI) was disqualified for having passed an out of bonds area.
In addition, Tuomas Heikkilä (FIN), Tomáš Křivda (CZE) and Yannick Michiels (BEL) also were knocked out in the semis.
Sprint finishes
The final courses were more straightforward and the finals were as close as one could have hoped.
In the women’s race, they split up several times along the way, but it ended in a decision between five women. And here Tereza Rauturier was fastest in the decisive meters, while Karolin Ohlsson (SWE), Pia Young Vik (NOR) and Malin Agervig Kristiansson (DEN) ended up sprinting for the silver medal.
Rauturier crosses the finish line in Genoa with the battle for silver behind her. Photo: Kristina Lindgren
Ohlsson was fastest and defended her silver from the Knock-Out Sprint final in Edinburgh two years ago, while Pia Young Vik just made it across the line for bronze, while the Dane had to settle for fourth place.
The men’s final also featured with many different route choices and an intense finish, where everything was decided on the last controls.
A three-man group with Isac von Krusenstierna (SWE), Akseli Ruohola (FIN) and the later World champion Guilhem Verove (FRA) stood out towards the end and after von Krusenstierna stumbled on the way to the last control, Verove went to the front and held the lead all the way to the finish. It was silver for Akseli Ruohola (FIN) and bronze for the unlucky Swede.
Silver medalist from Tuesday’s individual sprint, Guilhem Verove, won the men’s final ahead of Ruohola and von Krusenstierna. Photo: Kristina Lindgren
Behind them, Timo Suter (SUI) tried a different route choice for the last control, but did not quite catch up and ended up in fourth place.
Full results, GPS-tracking, TV, Maps and Photos in IOF LIVE
On Saturday, the World Orienteering Championships in Italy conclude with the Sprint Relay in the afternoon.
Follow the broadcast in IOF TV from 15:30 CEST (UTC +2)
Results, Finals
Women
1 Tereza Rauturier, CZE 10:02.90
2 Karolin Ohlsson, SWE +0:00.60
3 Pia Young Vik, NOR +0:00.89
4 Malin Agervig Kristiansson, DEN +0:01.10
5 Cecile Calandry, FRA +0:06.20
6 Lilly Graber, SUI +0:23.30
Men
1 Guilhem Verove, FRA 8:21.90
2 Akseli Ruohola, FIN +0:00.80
3 Isac von Krusenstierna, SWE+0:01.89
4 Timo Suter , SUI +0:03.60
5 Cooper Horley, AUS +0:21.90
6 Mathieu Perrin, FRA +0:32.79