WOC 2018 Long: Race Preview – webTV LIVE from 11:00 CET

Jan Kocbach August 11, 2018 Orienteering News Comments Off on WOC 2018 Long: Race Preview – webTV LIVE from 11:00 CET

[First start #WOC2018 Long 10:14 CET. Last Woman starts 12:30. Women decision 13:50. Last Man starts 15:10. Men decision 16:50] Get ready for a long and exciting day following the classic discipline of orienteering – the Long distance – the race for real men and real women.

The men head out on 16.1 km orienteering with 640 meters climb in tough, green Latvian terrain with partly poor runnability and visibility. The women run just below 10 km with 475 meters climb. Read on for a preview of favourites and winners below.

Program:
- Women start from 10:14 CET. Last starter is Elena Roos at 12:30 CET with Alexandersson at 12:24, Gemperle at 12:20. Expected winning time is 80 minutes for the 9.9 km course with 475 meters climb and 18 controls.
- Men start from 12:40 CET. Last starter is Fabian Hertner at 15:10 CET with Hubmann at 15:06, Lundanes at 15:04, Novikov at 15:00, Kinneberg at 14:58, Kyburz at 14:52. Expected winning time is 100 minutes for the 16.1 km course with 640 meters climb and 24 controls.
- Web-TV starts at 11:00 CET
Background material:
- Startlist WOC Long, WorldofO All You Need to Know article, Maps &Results from WOC Long 2017
Live services:
- WebTV and GPS-tracking at liveorienteering.org (paid service).
- Other live services at the organizer’s webpage (live results, live blog)

Women: Can Alexandersson get it right this time around?

Results WOC 2017

Results EOC 2018

.	Tove Alexandersson
.	Maja Alm
.	Natalia Gemperle
4.	Anne M H Nordberg
5.	Elena Roos
6.	Emma Johansson
7.	Merja Rantanen
8.	Sabine Hauswirth
9.	Ida Marie Næss Bjørgul
9.	Andrine Benjaminsen

.	Tove Alexandersson
.	Natalia Gemperle
.	Julia Jakob
4.	Sabine Hauswirth
5.	Maja Alm
6.	Maija Sianoja
7.	Anna Haataja
8.	Sigrid Alexandersen
9.	Karolin Ohlsson
10.	Elena Roos

Tove Alexandersson (Sweden) is reigning champion on WOC long distance, reigning champion on EOC long distance and also won WOC long distance two years ago. Alexandersson has shown good physical shape in Latvia, but her technical performance has varied from very good at part of the sprint and relay via mediocre at the sprint relay to really awful at the middle distance (Note that the results for Alexandersson, one Gold at the Sprint Relay and two silver medals at Sprint and Relay would be excellent results for anybody both Alexandersson – it is just that she can do a lot better on a “typical day”). Alexandersson has struggled in this terrain also in training camps, but on a long distance with her physical capacity it should be possible to adapt the speed to a level where she can find the controls safely and still be up there battling for gold.

Alexandersson has struggled in this terrain also in training camps, but on a long distance with her physical capacity it should be possible to adapt the speed

Alexandersson’s main opponent is Natalia Gemperle (Russia) – the winner from the middle distance and WOC silver medalist on the Long from 2016, WOC bronze medalist from 2017. Gemperle has shown excellent shape during WOC, and has also shown that she masters the Latvian terrain quite well. Maja Alm (Denmark) finished second at WOC Long last year, and is in similar shape this year. The terrain in Latvia has some similarities to Danish terrain, and thus Alm should be able to run well here – definitely an outsider for a medal.

Judith Wyder (Switzerland) was not running last year due to pregnancy, but is back on the long distance now. A very strong runner, who showed excellent shape beating Tove Alexandersson towards the end of the WOC Relay on Thursday. Definitely one to battle for the medals. Also count in her teammates Sabine Hauswirth and Elena Roos among the top medal candidates.

Outsiders: Karolin Ohlsson (Sweden), Svetlana Mironova (Russia), Tatyana Riabkina (Russia), Andrine Benjaminsen (Norway), Kamilla Olaussen (Norway), Sara Hagström (Sweden)

WoO’s tip:
1. Tove Alexandersson
2. Natalia Gemperle
3. Judith Wyder

#	Name	Country	Picture	Results
1.	Tove Alexandersson	SWE		Gold WOC Long (2017), Gold WOC Long (2016), Gold EOC Long (2018), Silver WOC Long (2014), Gold EOC Long (2016), Silver WOC Long (2013), Gold WC #3, Long (2017), Gold WC #3, Long (2015), 4th WOC Long (2015), Gold WC #8, Long (2014), Gold WC #2, Long (2014), Silver WC #4, Long (2015), Bronze WC #9, Long (2016), Bronze WC #8, Long (2011), Bronze JWOC Long (2011) Ranked Gold in World Ranking.
2.	Natalia Gemperle	RUS		Silver WOC Long (2016), Bronze WOC Long (2017), Silver EOC Long (2018), 5th WOC Long (2015), Bronze WC #9, Long (2017), 4th EOC Long (2016), 4th WC #3, Long (2017), 16th WC #9, Long (2016), 11th WC #10, Long (2015) Ranked Silver in World Ranking.
3.	Svetlana Mironova	RUS		Gold WOC Long (2014), Bronze WOC Long (2015), Silver EOC Long (2014), Bronze EOC Long (2016), Bronze WC #4, Long (2015), 20th WOC Long (2016), 19th EOC Long (2018), 4th WC #9, Long (2016), 13th WOC Long (2012) Ranked 21st in World Ranking.
4.	Judith Wyder	SUI		Gold EOC Long (2014), Bronze WOC Long (2014), Gold WC #9, Long (2016), 4th WOC Long (2016), 5th WC #3, Long (2015), 18th WC #4, Long (2015), 4th WC #10, Long (2010), 13th JWOC Long (2008) Ranked 473rd in World Ranking.
5.	Maja Alm	DEN		Silver WOC Long (2017), 5th EOC Long (2018), Bronze WC #3, Long (2017), 6th WC #9, Long (2016), 17th WOC Long (2010), 7th WC #8, Long (2011), 26th EOC Long (2010), 39th WOC Long (2009), 12th JWOC Long (2007) Ranked 6th in World Ranking.
6.	Sabine Hauswirth	SUI		Silver WC #9, Long (2017), Silver WC #9, Long (2016), 8th WOC Long (2017), Silver WC #10, Long (2015), 4th EOC Long (2018), 10th WOC Long (2016), 5th EOC Long (2016), 11th WOC Long (2015), 5th WC #3, Long (2017) Ranked 5th in World Ranking.
7.	Elena Roos	SUI		Gold WC #9, Long (2017), 5th WOC Long (2017), 10th EOC Long (2018), 16th EOC Long (2016), 20th WC #3, Long (2017), 12th WC #9, Long (2016), 14th WC #10, Long (2015), 19th WC #3, Long (2015), 45th WC #4, Long (2015) Ranked 7th in World Ranking.
8.	Tatyana Riabkina	RUS		Silver EOC Long (2012), 5th WOC Long (2013), 4th WOC Long (2012), 12th WOC Long (2015), Silver EOC Long (2008), 8th WC #3, Long (2015), Bronze EOC Long (2004), 19th WC #3, Long (2017), 33rd WC #9, Long (2017), Silver WC #11, Long (2004), Gold JWOC Long (2000), Silver JWOC Long (1999), Silver JWOC Long (1998) Ranked 9th in World Ranking.
9.	Annika Rihma	EST		20th WOC Long (2017), 26th WOC Long (2016), 24th WOC Long (2015), 33rd WOC Long (2014), 28th EOC Long (2018), 24th WOC Long (2012), 29th EOC Long (2016), 15th EOC Long (2014), 35th WC #9, Long (2017) Ranked 57th in World Ranking.
10.	Susen Lösch	GER		22nd WOC Long (2017), 22nd WOC Long (2016), 37th WOC Long (2015), 40th WOC Long (2014), 29th EOC Long (2018), 28th WC #9, Long (2017), 46th WC #3, Long (2017), 26th WC #10, Long (2015), 56th WC #4, Long (2015) Ranked 42nd in World Ranking.
11.	Sofia Haajanen	FIN		16th WOC Long (2016), 9th WOC Long (2014), 11th EOC Long (2018), 10th EOC Long (2016), 10th EOC Long (2014), 7th WC #4, Long (2015), 16th WC #3, Long (2017), 8th WC #8, Long (2014), 13th EOC Long (2012) Ranked 17th in World Ranking.
12.	Anna Serrallonga ArquÃ©s	ESP		21st WOC Long (2016), 34th WOC Long (2017), 44th WOC Long (2014), 41st WOC Long (2013), 52nd EOC Long (2018), 39th WOC Long (2012), 26th WOC Long (2011), 39th EOC Long (2014), 43rd WC #3, Long (2017) Ranked 84th in World Ranking.
13.	Lizzie Ingham	NZL		28th WOC Long (2017), 31st WOC Long (2016), 28th WOC Long (2015), 13th WOC Long (2011), 12th WC #10, Long (2015), 13th WC #3, Long (2015), 46th WC #4, Long (2015) Ranked 98th in World Ranking.
14.	Inga Dambe	LAT		21st WOC Long (2015), 18th WOC Long (2014), 21st WOC Long (2013), 21st WOC Long (2012), 31st EOC Long (2014), 10th EOC Long (2012), 38th WC #9, Long (2017), 27th WC #4, Long (2015), 20th WOC Long (2009) Ranked 35th in World Ranking.
15.	Anna Haataja	FIN		7th EOC Long (2018), Gold JWOC Long (2016), Silver JWOC Long (2015), 24th WC #9, Long (2017), 44th WC #9, Long (2016), 4th JWOC Long (2014), 42nd JWOC Long (2013) Ranked 39th in World Ranking.

Men: Is Lundanes strong again after illness?

Results WOC 2017

Results EOC 2018

.	Olav Lundanes
.	Leonid Novikov
.	William Lind
4.	Magne Dæhli
5.	Eskil Kinneberg
6.	Daniel Hubmann
7.	Fabian Hertner
8.	Johan Runesson
9.	Martin Regborn
10.	Timo Sild

.	Olav Lundanes
.	Matthias Kyburz
.	Gernot Kerschbaumer
4.	Frederic Tranchand
5.	Daniel Hubmann
6.	Martin Hubmann
7.	Milos Nykodym
8.	Fabian Hertner
9.	Magne Dæhli
10.	Timo Sild

Olav Lundanes (Norway) is in a similar situation as Tove Alexandersson. Lundanes is reigning World and European champion Long distance, and in addition World Champion Long from 2016. Lundanes also has a small uncertainty to his name as he became ill with stomach-problems after the middle distance and had to skip both the prize-giving ceremony after the Middle and the relay for Norway. Lundanes is said to be on the start on the Long, and thus he will be the favourite in this preview-article.

As in the middle distance, his main opponents are Swiss in the form of Daniel Hubmann and Matthias Kyburz. Hubmann is the boggest favourite of these two with a WOC gold medal from 2009 and several medals since at both WOC long and EOC long. Also look out for last year’s silver medalist at WOC Long, the Russian Leonid Novikov.

Another man to look out for is the Norwegian Magne Dæhli, who is always stront in the end of Long distance races. Can he start his turbo early enough to get up in the medals – and even to the gold – today? Also count in the Norwegian Eskil Kinneberg who won the Middle distance on Tuesday. He is at least as good on Long as on at Midde. The last of the favourites is Frederic Tranchand (France). Trachand had the best split time on the relay, and although his training for Latvia could have been better with both illness and injury (hit by a car during training in Latvia training camp).

Outsiders: Sild brothers (Estonia), Gernot Kerschbaumer (Austria), Fabian Hertner (Switzerland), Martin Regborn (Sweden), Lucas Basset (France), Gustav Bergman (Sweden)

WoO’s tip:
1. Olav Lundanes (providing he is starting and in shape for running)
2. Daniel Hubmann
3. Frederic Tranchand (dark horse)

#	Name	Country	Picture	Results
1.	Olav Lundanes	NOR		Gold WOC Long (2017), Gold WOC Long (2016), Gold EOC Long (2018), Gold WOC Long (2012), Bronze WOC Long (2015), Bronze WOC Long (2014), Silver EOC Long (2014), Gold EOC Long (2012), Gold WOC Long (2010), Silver WC #9, Long (2017), Silver WC #9, Long (2016), Bronze WC #10, Long (2015), Bronze WC #10, Long (2010), Bronze WC #10, Long (2010), Gold JWOC Long (2007), Gold JWOC Long (2005), Silver JWOC Long (2006) Ranked Gold in World Ranking.
2.	Daniel Hubmann	SUI		Silver WOC Long (2015), Silver WOC Long (2014), Gold EOC Long (2016), Bronze WOC Long (2016), Gold EOC Long (2014), 6th WOC Long (2017), Gold WC #10, Long (2015), Silver WC #3, Long (2015), 5th EOC Long (2018), Gold EOC Long (2010), Gold WOC Long (2009), Gold WOC Long (2008), Silver EOC Long (2008), Silver EOC Long (2006), Silver WC #5, Long (2008), Gold JWOC Long (2002), Bronze JWOC Long (2003) Ranked Bronze in World Ranking.
3.	Matthias Kyburz	SUI		Silver EOC Long (2018), Gold WC #9, Long (2017), Gold WC #9, Long (2016), Gold WC #4, Long (2015), Gold WC #3, Long (2015), 7th WOC Long (2016), 6th WOC Long (2015), 5th WOC Long (2014), 7th EOC Long (2016), Bronze JWOC Long (2010), Bronze JWOC Long (2008) Ranked Silver in World Ranking.
4.	Magne Dæhli	NOR		Silver EOC Long (2016), Gold WC #3, Long (2017), 4th WOC Long (2017), 6th WOC Long (2016), Bronze WC #9, Long (2017), 5th WOC Long (2013), 13th WOC Long (2015), Bronze WC #8, Long (2014), 9th EOC Long (2018), Silver JWOC Long (2007) Ranked 6th in World Ranking.
5.	Leonid Novikov	RUS		Silver WOC Long (2017), 25th WOC Long (2013), 31st WC #9, Long (2017), 31st WC #4, Long (2015), 25th EOC Long (2010), 6th JWOC Long (2002), 48th WC #10, Long (2008) Ranked 22nd in World Ranking.
6.	Edgars Bertuks	LAT		Bronze WOC Long (2013), Bronze WOC Long (2012), 24th WOC Long (2016), 27th WOC Long (2015), 10th EOC Long (2014), 31st WOC Long (2011), 23rd EOC Long (2012), 33rd WOC Long (2010), 40th WC #4, Long (2015) Ranked 79th in World Ranking.
7.	Fabian Hertner	SUI		7th WOC Long (2017), 5th WOC Long (2015), 4th WOC Long (2014), 8th EOC Long (2018), 4th EOC Long (2014), Bronze EOC Long (2010), 5th WC #8, Long (2014), 7th WC #3, Long (2015), 10th WC #9, Long (2017) Ranked 10th in World Ranking.
8.	Gernot Kerschbaumer	AUT		Bronze EOC Long (2018), 14th WOC Long (2017), 8th WOC Long (2014), 22nd WOC Long (2016), 16th WOC Long (2015), 12th EOC Long (2016), 15th WOC Long (2012), 6th WC #9, Long (2016), 17th WOC Long (2011) Ranked 15th in World Ranking.
9.	Frederic Tranchand	FRA		4th WOC Long (2015), 8th WOC Long (2016), 4th EOC Long (2018), 21st WOC Long (2017), 14th WOC Long (2014), 5th EOC Long (2014), 8th EOC Long (2016), 8th WOC Long (2012), 4th WC #9, Long (2017) Ranked 21st in World Ranking.
10.	Martin Regborn	SWE		Bronze EOC Long (2016), 9th WOC Long (2017), 25th EOC Long (2018), 8th WC #3, Long (2017), 9th WC #9, Long (2016), 4th JWOC Long (2012), 29th JWOC Long (2011) Ranked 9th in World Ranking.
11.	Timo Sild	EST		10th WOC Long (2017), 10th WOC Long (2016), 22nd WOC Long (2015), 10th EOC Long (2018), 19th WOC Long (2013), 37th WOC Long (2014), 18th EOC Long (2014), 21st WC #3, Long (2017), 9th WC #2, Long (2014), Silver JWOC Long (2008) Ranked 14th in World Ranking.
12.	Gustav Bergman	SWE		8th WOC Long (2015), Bronze WC #4, Long (2015), Bronze WC #3, Long (2015), 23rd WOC Long (2016), 15th WC #3, Long (2017), 24th WC #9, Long (2017), 27th EOC Long (2012), 28th WC #9, Long (2016), Gold JWOC Long (2009) Ranked 8th in World Ranking.
13.	Lucas Basset	FRA		4th WOC Long (2016), 9th WOC Long (2015), 31st EOC Long (2018), 25th WC #3, Long (2017), 18th WC #9, Long (2016), 20th WC #4, Long (2015), Bronze JWOC Long (2011), 9th WC #10, Long (2010), 9th WC #10, Long (2010) Ranked 19th in World Ranking.
14.	Eskil Kinneberg	NOR		5th WOC Long (2017), 12th EOC Long (2018), 5th WC #3, Long (2017), 16th EOC Long (2016), Gold JWOC Long (2012), 22nd EOC Long (2014), 13th WC #9, Long (2017), 18th WC #2, Long (2014), 4th JWOC Long (2010) Ranked 4th in World Ranking.
15.	Fredric Portin	FIN		11th WOC Long (2017), 16th WOC Long (2016), 19th WOC Long (2015), 9th EOC Long (2016), 16th EOC Long (2018), 14th WOC Long (2012), 40th EOC Long (2014), 9th WC #4, Long (2015), 15th WC #9, Long (2017) Ranked 20th in World Ranking.