The old city center of Olten, Switzerland and the many energetic spectators in the arena created another nice backdrop for Sunday’s individual World Cup sprint
Switzerland’s Natalia Gemperle took her first World Cup win in six years – a comfortable one with 12 seconds of margin, whereas Emil Svensk (SWE) only secured his victory by one second in the men’s class.
Compared to Saturday’s Knock-Out Sprint races, the sprint courses started in eastern Olten with several parts in park areas before entering the old town towards the end.
Natalia Gemperle led most of the women’s 3,4 kilometer course with compatriot Simona Aebersold and yestersday’s winner Tove Alexandersson (SWE) being the only ones close to her split times.
Natalia Gemperle on the finish line. Photo by Silvan Schletti
Alexandersson made a mistake on the second to last control and dropped down to seventh position, while Aebersold was 12 seconds behind in the finish. Czechia’s Tereza Janosikova had a fast, stable race and took third position – her best World Cup result since 2019.
Aleksandra Hornik (POL) was just one second behind her, while Hanna Lundberg (SWE) and Cecile Calandry (FRA) completed the podium in fifth and sixth place respectively. That means five different nations were represented in women’s top 6.
Over 3,9 kilometers a fierce battle for the win unfolded in the men’s class, where Emil Svensk managed to keep yesterday’s third place Tuomas Heikkilä (FIN) just behind him by one second.
Martin Regborn (SWE) was never far behind and came third today – four seconds slower than Svensk.
Both Jonatan Gustafsson (SWE) and Yannick Michiels (BEL) had the lead during the first part of the course, but eventually they lost time and dropped to fourth and fifth place in the finish.
Sixth place was shared between Norway’s Eirik Langedal Breivik and Gustav Runefors (SWE), 22 seconds behind Svensk’s winning time.
Find results, tracking and TV broadcast via IOF LIVE
Athletes that are eager to get back on the international scene after this weekend’s World Cup races in Olten won’t have to wait long. The Orienteering World Cup Round 2 takes place in the coming weekend in Genoa, Italy where a sprint and a sprint relay await.
You will be able to follow the races on IOF LIVE and IOF TV, where English, French and German commentary is offered.