WOC 2017 Sprint Relay Preview – LIVE from 16:05 CET

Jan Kocbach July 2, 2017 Orienteering News Comments Off on WOC 2017 Sprint Relay Preview – LIVE from 16:05 CET

Denmark is the big favourite – Switzerland and Sweden are the clear medal favourites. Russia and Great Britain have both very strong teams and should also be able to battle for the medals. Read on for a preview of the favourites for WOC 2017 Sprint Relay.

Program: Start at 16:05 CET; 17:05 local time. Expected winning time 60 minutes.
Background material: Startlist WOC Sprint Relay, WorldofO All You Need to Know article, Maps &Results from WOC 2016, Analysis from WOC 2016 Sprint Relay
WebTV at liveorienteering.org – to buy access to all of the championship for EUR 20 instead of paying for one event at a time, click the blue banner at the top of the page at liveorienteering.org
Other Live services at the organizer’s LIVE Center (see also direct link to live results as some had trouble finding them)

Who can beat Denmark?

The main favourite in the women’s class is the Gold medalist from the two last World Championships Sprint Relay, Denmark. Can Denmark make it three in a row, just like Maja Alm did in the individual Sprint? One big reason for Denmark’s dominance in this discipline is Maja Alm’s dominance in the women’s sprint. For once this makes it possible for Denmark to win even if they start more than half a minute behind on the last leg. In addition the added security of a good last leg runner makes it possible to relax a bit more for the other runners in the team. And the rest of the team is also excellent: Cecilie Friberg Klysner finished 7th yesterday, Andreas Boesen is among the best 20-25 sprinters in the world, and did not run the individual sprint to be physically on the top for the Sprint Relay – and Tue Lassen finished 11th on the individual Sprint. Even without Alm Denmark would be a medal candidate.

this makes it possible for Denmark to win even if they start more than half a minute behind on the last leg

But: Denmark was beaten by Sweden in the only Sprint Relay which has been ran in the World Cup this year. After being beaten in the final run-in by Sweden’s Helena Jansson, Maja Alm in addition got the message that she was disqualified on the last leg due to a misspunch. So even if Denmark is the big favourite, the Swedish lineup with Lina Strand, Jerker Lysell, Jonas Leandersson and Helena Jansson is definitely a strong team to look out for. Jansson did not run the individual Sprint, and should be very well prepared – being in her best shape ever just like Maja Alm. Let’s hope for a nice battle on the last leg with Jansson getting some seconds advantage!

Jansson did not run the individual Sprint, and should be very well prepared – being in her best shape ever just like Maja Alm

The last of the big favourites is Switzerland, but with Judith Wyder replaced by Sabine Hauswirth on the last leg (due to Wyder’s pregnancy), the team does not have a finish in the same class as Denmark and Sweden. But if the three others in the team, Elena Roos, Florian Howald and Martin Hubmann give Sabine Hauswirth a lead before the second leg, this could get interesting for Switzerland as well.

Russia and Great Britain are the last teams which will fight for Gold. Russia has Galina Vinogradova on the last leg, and if Svetlana Mironova, Andrey Khramov and Dimitry Tsvetskov delivers Vinogradova in a good position, anything is possible for Russia.

Great Britain, who finished 4th last year, focuses 100% on the Sprint Relay, knowing it is there biggest medal chance. None of the athletes in the team ran the individual Sprint (except for Kris Jones who only ran the qualification, but skipped the final to be top prepared for the relay as he has some small injury problems). Cat Taylor, Ralph Street, Kris Jones and Tessa Strain can definitely fight for the medals here – and maybe even the Gold medal on a top day.

Outsiders: Finland, Norway, France, Austria.