NORT Oslo weekend: Maps, Results and Analysis

3 x victory for Switzerland with Niggli and Kyburz – and Carl Godager Kaas took his first World Cup victory since his WOC gold medal in 2010. Switzerland still dominates the sprint scene – while Norway and Sweden are a step ahead in Nordic forest.

The big surprise of the weekend was of course Christopher Smithard with a 4th place on the sprint

In the men’s class there have been several young runners coming in to the Top 3 and Top 6 this weekend who we have not seen this high up on the results earlier – maybe a new generation trying to push the established elite down from the podium? With 2nd place on the middle distance, Gustav Bergman took his first ever World Cup medal (previously 5th). The same for Bjørn Ekeberg, third on the middle (previously 12th) and Tue Lassen, third on sprint (previously 4th).  The big surprise of the weekend was of course Christopher Smithard with a 4th place on the sprint – previously best WC result being a 48th(!).

Bright, young future for French orienteering

Also count in Lucas Basset in the mix of positive surprises with 5th on the middle – previously his best World Cup result was 9th on home ground in a very special World Cup race – and 21st except for that. With Gueorgiou and the other French out training with bears in the Finnish wilderness, Basset is showing the world that there is a bright, young future for French orienteering.

But why stop there – what about Matthias Kyburz‘s brother Andreas Kyburz who finished fourth on the middle distance – the best Swiss runner on the Swiss “Achilles heel” discipline Middle. – Tries hard to get into the Swiss WOC Team,  Kyburz wrote in his update to his athlete profile a  few days ago – this is the way to go to achieve it. And finally Danish Rasmus Thrane Hansen – junior World Champion sprint from  2009 – who finished 6th on the sprint on Saturday – besting his earlier 19th place in the World Cup.

On the other hand several top runners are missing in the men’s class, e.g. Olav Lundanes, Thierry Gueorgiou and Edgars Bertuks who are all Top 5 on the World of O Ranking.

Simone, Simone, Simone

Among the women, Simone Niggli shows that she is the world’s best orienteer in the women’s class with two victories this weekend (although Minna Kauppi was not on the start due to illness and will be strong on home ground). Young Swede Tove Alexandersson gives Niggli a real fight though, and it won’t be long until the fight between them will be even closer if Alexandersson continues her improvements. Alexandersson still has to work on her stability though – maybe taking a bit more risk out of her orienteering – because in her best moments she is up there at Niggli’s level.

Behind Niggli and Alexandersson (and possibly Kauppi) there is a big gap. Looking at the performance index of the others from the sprint, there is a long way up – not even in part of the race the others manage to match the performance of Niggli (who is a step ahead) and Alexandersson. With respect to potential, Tatyana Riabkina is the closest – but still a way to go.

Looking at the performance index from the middle distance, Niggli is even further ahead – even with a somewhat unstable race. Around Alexandersson’s level with respect to potential we find Mari Fasting (finishing third on the middle, just seconds behind Alexandersson) and Annika Billstam (although with some big, big mistakes today again)

Maps and GPS-tracking

2DRerun links (Note the new course option in 2DRerun which makes you save routes belonging together):

• Sprint Men and Women
• Middle Men and Women

Maps and GPS-tracking from the races:

Results NORT Stage 1 Sprint: Men

Results NORT Stage 1 Sprint: Women

Results NORT Stage 2 Middle: Men

Results NORT Stage 2 Middle: Women