World of O News
Thierry Gueorgiou and Simone Niggli handled the tricky high-speed orienteering at the first stage of Portugal O-Meeting 2013 best. The open and fast terrain with rocks of varying size and small green areas spread out, made it important to be in control all the way.
The two big names in orienteering the last years, Simone Niggli and Thierry Guerorgiou, both had very clear wins today. Gueorgiou had around 2:30 down to Swedish Olle Bostöm in second and another minute to Albin Ridefeldt (also Sweden) in third. Among the women, Niggli has more than 4 minutes down to French Celine Dodin in 2nd with Dana Brozkova in 3rd.
Skipped New Zealand
The sprint Monday evening will be the highlight of the weekend
They both started the international competition season with this race, as they skipped the World Cup opening in New Zealand in January. And finally, both are among the biggest favourites when the biggest goals of the season come up in Finland in summer.
Although many top runners are on the start list in this year’s edition of Portugal O-meeting, not all have focus on this first competition – the WRE race on Monday being the most important race of the weekend for most. Observing the runners at a control in the terrain, it was evident that many were just out jogging. Gueorgiou, however, has other plans.
– Yes, I will run full speed all races, the french multiple World Champion answers. – Also the sprint Monday evening. The sprint Monday evening will be the highlight of the weekend, Gueorgiou says about the sprint which will go in a very special city with big rocks.
Less running than usual
It is improving, and I hope the warm climate here in Portugual will help it to get even better
Both Gueorgiou and Niggli have run less than usual the last months. Gueorgiou because his new home Sweden has not always invited to running. Niggli because she has had injuries making it difficult to run as much as she is used to.
– It is improving, and I hope the warm climate here in Portugual will help it to get even better, Niggli explains.
Even with little running, nobody was close to the Swiss star of orienteering.
Olav Lundanes – one of the big favourites today – had a good race until the third last control were he got an injury.
Results
| M21SE (112) |
| Pl | Stno | Name | YB | Club | Time |
|---|
| 1 | 3 | 79 | 1:03:11 |
| 2 | 18 | 90 | 1:05:59 |
| 3 | 23 | 91 | 1:06:44 |
| 4 | 6 | 88 | 1:06:59 |
| 5 | 8 | 1:07:50 | |
| 6 | 105 | 90 | 1:08:00 |
| 7 | 4 | 83 | 1:08:38 |
| 8 | 7 | 85 | 1:09:32 |
| 9 | 80 | 80 | 1:10:15 |
| 10 | 39 | 85 | 1:10:19 |
| 11 | 33 | 91 | 1:10:26 |
| 12 | 54 | 88 | 1:10:47 |
| 13 | 9 | 82 | 1:11:14 |
| 13 | 107 | 81 | 1:11:14 |
| 15 | 26 | 84 | 1:11:28 |
| 16 | 38 | 89 | 1:11:50 |
| 17 | 52 | 84 | 1:12:02 |
| 18 | 113 | 85 | 1:12:38 |
| 19 | 109 | 1:12:48 | |
| 20 | 21 | 91 | 1:13:16 |
| W21E (93) |
| Pl | Stno | Name | YB | Club | Time |
|---|
| 1 | 301 | 78 | 1:00:07 |
| 2 | 308 | 79 | 1:04:15 |
| 3 | 311 | 81 | 1:04:58 |
| 4 | 307 | 78 | 1:05:25 |
| 5 | 318 | 89 | 1:05:28 |
| 6 | 305 | 86 | 1:06:00 |
| 7 | 324 | 89 | 1:06:15 |
| 8 | 302 | 76 | 1:06:25 |
| 9 | 402 | 83 | 1:06:31 |
| 10 | 329 | 92 | 1:06:33 |
| 11 | 312 | 90 | 1:07:04 |
| 12 | 304 | 91 | 1:07:33 |
| 13 | 319 | 78 | 1:07:49 |
| 14 | 306 | 87 | 1:08:02 |
| 15 | 310 | 86 | 1:08:25 |
| 16 | 344 | 82 | 1:09:07 |
| 17 | 321 | 91 | 1:09:19 |
| 18 | 352 | 70 | 1:10:05 |
| 18 | 309 | 91 | 1:10:05 |
| 20 | 385 | 80 | 1:11:04 |
