WOC 2023 Relay: Maps and Results

Switzerland’s men and Sweden’s women took the Gold medals in today’s World Orienteering Championships (WOC) relay in Flims Laax, Switzerland today. In the men’s class silver and bronze went to Finland and Sweden, while Switzerland and Norway joined Sweden on the podium in the women’s class.

The terrain was quite different from yesterday’s technical Middle distance with very physical courses. A long route choice leg with steep downhill and uphill running proved to be decisive in both the men’s and women’s class.

Men: Decisive second leg by last-minute reserve

After a good start in the leader group by Daniel Hubmann, last-minute reserve Joey Hadorn decided the relay on the second leg by a very strong performance – sending last leg runner Matthias Kyburz out with a 2 minute lead which was enough for Switzerland to take Gold. Hadorn was reserve for Martin Hubmann after Hubmann got a stick in his eye at yesterday’s middle distance, and his eye was still swollen this morning.

Finland did a very good relay and finished in silver position – to a large degree thanks to the third excellent race this week by Olli Ojanaho on the second leg. Topi Syrjalainen ran the first leg and Miika Kirmula the last leg. Sweden with Albin Ridefelt, Gustav Bergman and Emil Svensk finished in third place ahead of Norway, France and Czechia.

Norway was in the battle for medals and gold until halfway on the second leg where Kasper Fosser did a poor routechoice, losing first contact with Hadorn and later also with Finland – coming in just behind Sweden.

Women: Lundberg deciding on the first leg

Sweden’s Hanna Lundberg ran a fantastic first leg – giving Sweden a 1:30 lead down to Switzerland in second place with the rest of the field nearly 2  minutes behind. Lundberg opened up the big gap on a long leg that was similar to the men’s leg, but opened for more route choice options. The other women in the leading group chose to run to the left on the long leg, losing 1:45 or more to Lundberg (see illustration below). Sara Hagström continued with an excellent second leg, increasing the lead down to Switzerland to 2:30. The queen of the championship, Tove Alexandersson, had no problems keeping Simona Aebersold behind, increading the lead to 4 and a half minute.

Elena Roos, Natalia Gemperle and Simona Aebersold ran in the Swiss silver medal team. Norway took bronze with Marianne Andersen, Marie Olaussen and Andrine Benjaminsen – nearly 10 minutes behind the Swedish winning team. Finland, Czechia and Denmark finished in the next places.

Maps and GPS-tracking

• Men: Leg 1 – Leg 2 – Leg 3 
• Women: Leg 1 – Leg 2 – Leg 3

Results

Men

Women 

• Official results