Here is my analysis: What we can see here is, that the expected positive effect of a separation method gets inverted by the circumstance, that the method is often related with a row of short controls in difficult terrain. We know that such a thing alters the chance of group formation with its lack of route choices and a altered probability of making mistakes. Additionally the small start intervall elevates the chance that groups build here after small mistakes provoked here.

@Simmo: IOF reintroduced 3 minute startinterval, but the organizers were allowed to keep the planned 2 minute startinterval as it was too short notice regarding their agreements/planning with TV etc.

Re Fairness – is it fair when you have someone breathing down your neck for 60 minutes in a race? Your concentration skills must be so much higher than for someone who is running alone, and there is a definite risk that your mind will start to think about this follower and you will make a mistake. I have great admiration for the concentration powers of Hubmann and Nordberg – they should be given a bonus of 1 minute off their time for every 10 minutes they were being followed!