The favourites dominated with strong performances as the World Cup athletes ran a demanding sprint in Skara, Sweden on Saturday afternoon.
Reigning World Cup winner Simona Aebersold (SUI) was unbeatable, winning by a full 22 seconds in the women’s class, while Kasper Fosser (NOR) was also superb in the men’s class, where his winning margin was 12 seconds.
The day offered several difficult route choice challenges in Skara, where a large number of barriers and a mix of short and long legs made it difficult for the athletes to feel certain about the fastest route to the next control.
The terrain also changed along the way in the courses, which began in residential areas, crossed through an open museum park area before ending on the cobblestones around the cathedral in Skara.
No mistakes from the Swiss
And last-starting Simona Aebersold crushed all opposition with a largely flawless race on a day where there were several surprises in the results list.
Simona Aebersold celebrates on the finish line. Photo: Kristina Lindgren
Malin Agervig Kristiansson (DEN) came in second, achieving her best ever finish in an international race. Third place went to Sanna Fasth (SWE) with a time that was two seconds slower. That’s her best international sprint result.
The fastest three were followed by Hanna Lundberg (SWE), Knock-Out Sprint winner from Thursday night Hedvig Valbjørn Gydesen (DEN) and European champion Pia Young Vik (NOR).
Fosser on fire
In the men’s race, it was also the last starter who took the win. Kasper Fosser lead the race from control 3 to the finish and also chose the fastest route on the leg to control 16, where several athletes lost around 20 seconds choosing a slower alternative.
Kasper Fosser keeps pushing hard on the final meters. Photo: Kristina Lindgren
Tuomas Heikkilä (FIN) again delivered a strong performance and took another second place – 12 seconds behind Fosser, while European champion Mathias Barros Vallet (FRA) lost time on the way to control 1, but otherwise kept up the pace and came in third.
Tino Polsini (SUI), who won the World Cup sprint in Locarno a month ago, was in third position before the leg to control 16, but lost around 15 seconds on the slower route and finished 5th. Tomáš Křivda (CZE) took fourth place, while Fabian Aebersold (SUI) came 6th.
Find all results, GPS tracking, maps and photos in IOF LIVE
The World Cup round in Sweden concludes on Sunday afternoon with the Sprint Relay. It starts at 14:40 CEST (UTC+2), while the broadcast on IOF TV starts 10 minutes earlier.
Leading results
Women
1 Simona Aebersold, SUI 13:42
2 Malin Agervig Kristiansson, DEN +0:22
3 Sanna Fasth, SWE +0:24
4 Hanna Lundberg, SWE +0:31
5 Hedvig Valbjørn Gydesen, DEN +0:35
6 Pia Young Vik, NOR +0:37
Men
1 Kasper Harlem Fosser, NOR 14:17
2 Tuomas Heikkilä, FIN +0:12
3 Mathias Barros Vallet, FRA +0:19
4 Tomáš Křivda, CZE +0:24
5 Tino Polsini, SUI +0:36
6 Fabian Aebersold, SUI +0:38