WOC 2016 Long Favourite Preview – LIVE from 12:20 CET

[First Start 12:20 CET. Top 20 Women from 13:45, Top 20 Men from 15:30] Can Tove Alexandersson take another Gold medal even though she was really tired at the end of Tuesday’s Middle distance? Can Thierry Gueorgiou win his 4th WOC long distance title in a row even though his orienteering was shaky on the middle distance?

This will surely be a very interesting long distance race with many runners who can go all the way to the top both in the men’s and women’s class. The TV broadcast starts at  14:00 CET for the women and 16:15 CET for the men.

• Web TV: Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, International (IOF Live Centre)
• Other Live services: Live results, GPS-tracking (only final, via IOF Live Centre) 
• Background: Startlist, WorldofO All You Need to Know article

Women: Tove Alexandersson again?

The main favourite in the women’s class is again Tove Alexandersson (Sweden). Alexandersson has higher speed than the other runners on the start list – and proved on Tuesday with her first individual World Championships title that she can handle both the pressure and the terrain. Normally the long distance should suit Alexanderson better than a middle distance.

The two other medalists from the middle distance, Heidi Bagstevold (Norway) and Natalia Gemperle (Russia) are both among the favourites also for the long distance. Both have proved earlier that they can keep up the speed and concentration for a complete long distance course. Bagstevold has trained a lot in relevant terrain and masters the terrain very well. Gemperle is a bit more uncertain, but seemed to have no significant problems on the Middle distance.

Swiss Judith Wyder had a rest day on Tuesday’s middle distance after two Sprint days in the weekend, and probably comes to the start of the long distance well rested. Wyder’s orienteering is not as safe in Scandinavian terrain as in continental terrain, but if she has a good day she may have the chance to go all the way to the top.

The two last Norwegians on the start list, Mari Fasting (WOC Long silver medal last year) and Anne Margrethe Hausken Nordberg (EOC Long silver medal this year) will also be up there fighting for the medals – and also for the gold medal on a perfect day. Finally Svetlana Mironova (Russia), winner of WOC long in 2014 in Italy and bronze medalist at WOC long in Scotland last year may also battle for the Gold medal on a top day.

 Another very interesting runner is Canadian Emily Kemp (Canada) – 4th on the middle distance on Tuesday just as on EOC middle. Kemp also proved at EOC that she can run a long distance well with a 7th place there. Other outsiders are Sabine Hauswirth (Switzerland) and Emma Johansson (Sweden).

Note that Ida Bobach is not starting although she is on the start list.

World of O’s medal tip:

1. Tove Alexandersson
2. Natalia Gemperle
3. Judith Wyder

Other favourites: Svetlana Mironova, Mari Fasting, Heidi Bagstevold, Anne Margrethe Hausken Nordberg
Outsiders: Sabine Hauswirth, Emily Kemp, Emma Johansson

Below is a list of the 20 top women long distance runners the last years using a point system which weights medals in the biggest championships the last years highest. The non-starters at WOC Long are marked accordingly.

#	Name	Country	Picture	Results
1.	Tove Alexandersson	SWE		Silver WOC Long (2014), Silver WOC Long (2013), Gold EOC Long (2016), Gold WC #3, Long (2015), 4th WOC Long (2015), Gold WC #8, Long (2014), Gold WC #2, Long (2014), Silver WC #4, Long (2015), 4th EOC Long (2012), Bronze WC #8, Long (2011), Bronze JWOC Long (2011) Ranked Gold in World Ranking.
2.	Svetlana Mironova	RUS		Gold WOC Long (2014), Bronze WOC Long (2015), Silver EOC Long (2014), Bronze EOC Long (2016), Bronze WC #4, Long (2015), Bronze WC #9, Long (2015), 13th WOC Long (2012), 7th WC #3, Long (2015), 14th EOC Long (2012) Ranked 7th in World Ranking.
3.	Ida Bobach (Not starting)	DEN		Gold WOC Long (2015), Gold WC #4, Long (2015), Gold WC #9, Long (2015), Silver WC #8, Long (2014), 10th WOC Long (2014), 8th WOC Long (2012), 11th WOC Long (2013), 4th WC #3, Long (2015), Gold JWOC Long (2011), Gold JWOC Long (2010), Gold JWOC Long (2009) Ranked Silver in World Ranking.
4.	Mari Fasting	NOR		Silver WOC Long (2015), 4th WOC Long (2014), Silver WC #9, Long (2015), 8th WOC Long (2013), Bronze WC #8, Long (2014), 14th WOC Long (2012), 9th WOC Long (2010), 7th EOC Long (2012), 9th WC #8, Long (2011), Gold JWOC Long (2005) Ranked 25th in World Ranking.
5.	Anne Margrethe Hausken Nordberg	NOR		Silver EOC Long (2016), Gold WC #10, Long (2015), 7th WOC Long (2015), 5th WOC Long (2012), Gold EOC Long (2008), 8th WOC Long (2010), 6th WOC Long (2009), Gold WC #10, Long (2008), 4th WOC Long (2008), Silver WC #5, Long (2008), Silver WC #11, Long (2005) Ranked Bronze in World Ranking.
6.	Dana Safka Brožková	CZE		Silver WOC Long (2011), Gold WOC Long (2008), Silver EOC Long (2010), 22nd WOC Long (2015), Silver WC #8, Long (2011), 13th WOC Long (2013), 4th WOC Long (2009), 9th EOC Long (2016), 19th WOC Long (2012), Bronze WOC Long (2006), Gold JWOC Long (2001) Ranked 24th in World Ranking.
7.	Judith Wyder	SUI		Gold EOC Long (2014), Bronze WOC Long (2014), 5th WC #3, Long (2015), 4th WC #10, Long (2010), 18th WC #4, Long (2015), 13th JWOC Long (2008) Ranked 20th in World Ranking.
8.	Marianne Andersen (Not starting)	NOR		Silver WOC Long (2010), Silver WOC Long (2009), Silver WOC Long (2008), Silver WOC Long (2006), Silver WC #4, Long (2009), 4th WOC Long (2005), 5th WOC Long (2007), 8th WOC Long (2003), 11th WOC Long (2004) Ranked 90th in World Ranking.
9.	Catherine Taylor	GBR		Bronze EOC Long (2014), 6th WOC Long (2015), 10th WOC Long (2013), 19th WOC Long (2014), 6th WC #9, Long (2015), 47th EOC Long (2012), 43rd WC #8, Long (2011) Ranked 6th in World Ranking.
10.	Helena Jansson (Not starting)	SWE		Bronze WOC Long (2011), Bronze EOC Long (2010), 4th WOC Long (2010), Silver WC #10, Long (2010), 8th WOC Long (2009), 7th WC #10, Long (2015), 9th WC #2, Long (2014), 9th WC #8, Long (2014), 5th WC #5, Long (2008), Bronze JWOC Long (2003) Ranked 5th in World Ranking.
11.	Sabine Hauswirth	SUI		Silver WC #10, Long (2015), 5th EOC Long (2016), 11th WOC Long (2015), 6th WC #3, Long (2015), 11th WC #9, Long (2015), 15th WC #4, Long (2015), 26th WC #8, Long (2014), 15th WC #8, Long (2011), 31st WC #4, Long (2009) Ranked 10th in World Ranking.
12.	Natalia Gemperle	RUS		5th WOC Long (2015), 4th EOC Long (2016), 5th WC #9, Long (2015), 11th WC #10, Long (2015), 50th JWOC Long (2010), 62nd JWOC Long (2009), 68th JWOC Long (2008) Ranked 4th in World Ranking.
13.	Emma Johansson	SWE		7th WOC Long (2013), Bronze WC #3, Long (2015), 30th WOC Long (2015), 38th EOC Long (2016), 9th WC #4, Long (2015), 9th WC #10, Long (2015), 30th WC #9, Long (2015), 28th WC #8, Long (2014), 18th WC #4, Long (2009) Ranked 13th in World Ranking.
14.	Merja Rantanen (Not starting)	FIN		7th WOC Long (2012), 18th WOC Long (2015), 8th WOC Long (2011), 14th EOC Long (2016), 9th EOC Long (2012), 20th WOC Long (2010), 24th WOC Long (2009), 11th WC #4, Long (2015), 18th WC #9, Long (2015) Ranked 8th in World Ranking.
15.	Emily Kemp	CAN		20th WOC Long (2015), 7th EOC Long (2016), 25th WOC Long (2014), 25th WOC Long (2013), 28th EOC Long (2014), Bronze JWOC Long (2012), 20th WC #9, Long (2015), 35th WC #4, Long (2015), 60th WC #10, Long (2010) Ranked 15th in World Ranking.
16.	Amélie Chataing	FRA		16th WOC Long (2015), 14th WOC Long (2014), 14th WOC Long (2013), 16th WOC Long (2011), 4th WC #2, Long (2014), 32nd WOC Long (2009), 16th WC #9, Long (2015), 20th WC #8, Long (2014), 34th WC #4, Long (2015) Ranked 26th in World Ranking.
17.	AnniMaija Fincke	FIN		6th WOC Long (2013), 6th WOC Long (2011), 18th EOC Long (2016), 7th WOC Long (2009), 10th EOC Long (2010), 24th WC #10, Long (2010), Silver JWOC Long (2003), 13th WC #11, Long (2005), 16th WC #11, Long (2004) Ranked 68th in World Ranking.
18.	Anastasia Rudnaya	RUS		4th EOC Long (2014), 16th WOC Long (2013), 31st WOC Long (2014), 26th WOC Long (2012), 12th EOC Long (2016), 29th EOC Long (2012), 16th WC #8, Long (2014), 48th WC #4, Long (2015) Ranked 33rd in World Ranking.
19.	Inga Dambe	LAT		21st WOC Long (2015), 18th WOC Long (2014), 21st WOC Long (2013), 21st WOC Long (2012), 10th EOC Long (2012), 31st EOC Long (2014), 20th WOC Long (2009), 21st WC #9, Long (2015), 27th WC #4, Long (2015) Ranked 39th in World Ranking.
20.	Julia Gross	SUI		23rd WOC Long (2015), 17th WOC Long (2014), 8th EOC Long (2016), 9th EOC Long (2014), 8th WC #10, Long (2015), 10th WC #4, Long (2015), 34th EOC Long (2012), 11th WC #3, Long (2015), 11th WC #8, Long (2014) Ranked 17th in World Ranking.

Men: Lundanes’s turn again, or … ?

Thierry Gueorgiou (France) has won 3 WOC long distance races in a row in addition to 2011 – but is his shape and technique as good as earlier years? Many think that he does not handle this type of terrain well enough based on many technical mistakes – mostly on route choices – on the middle distance. Remember, however, that he has not succeeded in the WOC middle the last years, but has still risen again for the WOC long and won. Gueorgiou is extremely hungry for another Gold medal at the WOC long distance after missing out on the medals on the middle distance on Tuesday.

Olav Lundanes (Norway) won the WOC long distance title in year 2010 and 2012 – and is definitely among the big favourites also this year. He lives less than one hours drive from the terrain, and has had all possibilities to prepare for the WOC long distance. Long distance is Lundanes’ favourite discipline, and after “only” silver on the middle distance he is determined to climb another step on the podium. The podium picture below shows clearly how dissatisfied Lundanes is with silver on the Middle.

The last WOC long distance winner on the start in the men’s class is Daniel Hubmann (Switzerland) who won the WOC long distance in 2008 and 2009. Hubmann was third on Tuesday’s middle distance when he took his 21st WOC medal. Long distance suits him even better.

These three have shared the WOC long distance titles between them since 2008, but this year the list of strong opponents is longer than it has been in recent years. Matthias Kyburz (Switzerland) won the middle distance on Tuesday, but is usually even stronger on the long distance. A clear Gold candidate! Magne Dæhlie (Norway) looked very strong at Tuesday’s middle distance when he got his speed up – can he manage to minimize his time losses in the start and race for victory? Gustav Bergman looked strong in the first part of the course on Tuesday, leading just ahead of the arena passage. Bergman got tired on the middle, but does the long distance fit him better?

There are also a number of outsiders who can win a medal – and maybe even Gold – on a top day. These include Norwegian Carl Godager Kaas who has shown good shape this year and is very familiar with the terrain, the Sweden William Lind and Fredrik Bakkmann who both can run excellent long distance races when they are in shape, French Frederic Tranchand who runs in WOC Gold medalist tempo for most of the races he runs, but then too often makes mistakes – and finally the Swiss Baptiste Rollier.

World of O’s medal tip:

1. Olav Lundanes
2. Thierry Gueorgiou
3. Daniel Hubmann

Other favourites: Magne Dæhlie, Matthias Kyburz, Gustav Bergman
Outsiders: Carl Godager Kaas, Frederic Tranchand, William Lind, Fredrik Bakkmann, Baptiste Rollier

Below is a list of the 20 top men long distance runners the last years using a point system which weights medals in the biggest championships the last years highest. The non-starters at WOC Long are marked accordingly.

#	Name	Country	Picture	Results
1.	Thierry Gueorgiou	FRA		Gold WOC Long (2015), Gold WOC Long (2014), Gold WOC Long (2013), Gold WOC Long (2011), Gold WC #9, Long (2015), Silver WOC Long (2009), Bronze WOC Long (2010), Silver WC #4, Long (2015), Gold WC #10, Long (2010), Gold WC #10, Long (2010), Silver WC #8, Long (2011), Gold WC #9, Long (2006), Silver JWOC Long (1998) Ranked Bronze in World Ranking.
2.	Daniel Hubmann	SUI		Silver WOC Long (2015), Silver WOC Long (2014), Gold EOC Long (2016), Gold EOC Long (2014), Gold WOC Long (2009), Gold WC #10, Long (2015), Gold EOC Long (2010), Gold WOC Long (2008), Silver WC #3, Long (2015), Silver WC #9, Long (2015), Silver EOC Long (2008), Silver EOC Long (2006), Silver WC #5, Long (2008), Gold JWOC Long (2002), Bronze JWOC Long (2003) Ranked Gold in World Ranking.
3.	Olav Lundanes	NOR		Gold WOC Long (2012), Bronze WOC Long (2015), Gold WOC Long (2010), Bronze WOC Long (2014), Gold EOC Long (2012), Silver EOC Long (2014), Bronze WC #10, Long (2015), Bronze WC #9, Long (2015), 10th WOC Long (2011), Bronze WC #10, Long (2010), Bronze WC #10, Long (2010), Gold JWOC Long (2007), Gold JWOC Long (2005), Silver JWOC Long (2006) Ranked 4th in World Ranking.
4.	Matthias Kyburz	SUI		Gold WC #4, Long (2015), Gold WC #3, Long (2015), 6th WOC Long (2015), 5th WOC Long (2014), 7th EOC Long (2016), 19th WOC Long (2012), 5th WC #10, Long (2015), 13th EOC Long (2014), 6th WC #9, Long (2015), Bronze JWOC Long (2010), Bronze JWOC Long (2008) Ranked Silver in World Ranking.
5.	Edgars Bertuks	LAT		Bronze WOC Long (2013), Bronze WOC Long (2012), 27th WOC Long (2015), 10th EOC Long (2014), 31st WOC Long (2011), 33rd WOC Long (2010), 23rd EOC Long (2012), 27th WC #9, Long (2015), 40th WC #4, Long (2015) Ranked 31st in World Ranking.
6.	Magne Dæhli	NOR		Silver EOC Long (2016), 5th WOC Long (2013), 13th WOC Long (2015), Bronze WC #8, Long (2014), 11th WOC Long (2014), 15th EOC Long (2014), 6th WC #3, Long (2015), 8th WC #4, Long (2015), 8th WC #10, Long (2015), Silver JWOC Long (2007) Ranked 6th in World Ranking.
7.	Anders Nordberg (Not starting)	NOR		Silver WOC Long (2010), Silver WOC Long (2008), 13th WOC Long (2013), 10th WOC Long (2012), 4th EOC Long (2012), Silver WC #4, Long (2009), Bronze WOC Long (2007), 8th WOC Long (2009), Silver WC #3, Long (2007) Ranked 493rd in World Ranking.
8.	Fabian Hertner (Not starting)	SUI		5th WOC Long (2015), 4th WOC Long (2014), Bronze EOC Long (2010), 4th EOC Long (2014), 5th WC #9, Long (2015), 5th WC #8, Long (2014), 7th WC #3, Long (2015), 18th WC #4, Long (2015), 28th WC #10, Long (2015) Ranked 9th in World Ranking.
9.	Baptiste Rollier	SUI		Gold WC #2, Long (2014), 7th WOC Long (2014), 4th WOC Long (2011), 5th EOC Long (2016), 30th WOC Long (2013), 11th EOC Long (2014), 6th WC #10, Long (2015), 10th WOC Long (2009), Silver WC #10, Long (2008) Ranked 16th in World Ranking.
10.	Frederic Tranchand	FRA		4th WOC Long (2015), 8th WOC Long (2012), 14th WOC Long (2014), 5th EOC Long (2014), 8th EOC Long (2016), 4th WC #9, Long (2015), 7th WC #4, Long (2015), 10th EOC Long (2012), 22nd EOC Long (2010) Ranked 12th in World Ranking.
11.	Dmitriy Tsvetkov	RUS		4th WOC Long (2013), 7th WOC Long (2012), Gold EOC Long (2008), 15th WOC Long (2014), 5th WOC Long (2009), 12th WOC Long (2011), 10th WOC Long (2010), 23rd EOC Long (2016), 8th EOC Long (2012), Bronze WC #10, Long (2008), Gold JWOC Long (2003) Ranked 30th in World Ranking.
12.	Kiril Nikolov (Not starting)	BUL		6th WOC Long (2012), 9th WOC Long (2014), 9th WOC Long (2013), 25th WOC Long (2015), 24th EOC Long (2016), 29th WOC Long (2011), 26th WOC Long (2010), 6th EOC Long (2010), 19th WOC Long (2009) Ranked 34th in World Ranking.
13.	Oleksandr Kratov (Not starting)	UKR		Gold WC #8, Long (2014), 11th WOC Long (2015), 6th EOC Long (2012), 11th WOC Long (2011), 7th WC #10, Long (2015), 11th WC #9, Long (2015), 22nd WC #4, Long (2015), 32nd WC #8, Long (2011), 47th WC #9, Long (2006) Ranked 10th in World Ranking.
14.	Valentin Novikov	RUS		Bronze EOC Long (2012), 9th WOC Long (2013), 24th WOC Long (2014), 14th WOC Long (2011), Gold EOC Long (2000), 35th EOC Long (2016), 22nd WOC Long (2010), 10th EOC Long (2010), 4th WOC Long (2004), Silver WC #9, Long (2006), Silver WC #2, Long (2002) Ranked 27th in World Ranking.
15.	Gustav Bergman	SWE		8th WOC Long (2015), Bronze WC #3, Long (2015), Bronze WC #4, Long (2015), 8th WC #9, Long (2015), 27th EOC Long (2012), Gold JWOC Long (2009), 7th JWOC Long (2010) Ranked 8th in World Ranking.
16.	Carl Godager Kaas	NOR		Silver WC #10, Long (2015), 4th EOC Long (2016), 15th WOC Long (2011), 4th EOC Long (2010), 10th WC #4, Long (2015), 4th WC #10, Long (2010), 4th WC #10, Long (2010), 14th WC #8, Long (2014), 11th WOC Long (2008) Ranked 11th in World Ranking.
17.	Gernot Kerschbaumer	AUT		8th WOC Long (2014), 16th WOC Long (2015), 15th WOC Long (2012), 12th EOC Long (2016), 17th WOC Long (2011), 21st EOC Long (2014), 14th EOC Long (2012), 10th WC #3, Long (2015), 16th WC #9, Long (2015) Ranked 19th in World Ranking.
18.	Jan Šedivý	CZE		15th WOC Long (2015), 17th WOC Long (2014), 16th WOC Long (2013), 12th WOC Long (2012), 10th EOC Long (2016), 27th WOC Long (2011), 34th WOC Long (2010), 12th EOC Long (2012), 22nd WOC Long (2009) Ranked 13th in World Ranking.
19.	Tue Lassen (Not starting)	DEN		8th WOC Long (2013), 21st WOC Long (2015), 9th WOC Long (2012), 37th WOC Long (2011), 21st WC #9, Long (2015), 18th EOC Long (2010), 4th WC #5, Long (2008), 25th WC #10, Long (2010), 25th WC #10, Long (2010) Ranked 54th in World Ranking.
20.	Simonas Krepsta	LTU		29th WOC Long (2015), 27th WOC Long (2014), 15th WOC Long (2013), 20th WOC Long (2011), 21st WOC Long (2009), 29th WC #9, Long (2015), 20th EOC Long (2008), 32nd WOC Long (2003), Bronze JWOC Long (2004) Ranked 70th in World Ranking.