In wet conditions the World Cup middle distance races were decided and it was one of the more memorable orienteering competitions we have seen.
In women´s class we saw a first time winner in the Swedish junior Hanna Lundberg who shown both technical skills and physical strength once again. The most amazing with her performance was that she was the first starter out of 102 women! She sat in the leader sofa for the whole race and could see competitor after competitor fail to beat her time.
Closest was Simona Aebersold who had a clear and solid lead at the second TV-split but a big mistake at the third last control overturned the young Swiss.
All in all, it was pretty hard to make a clean run in the terrain at Gränjåsen and Gränjesåsvallen for everybody this Saturday afternoon.
In the men´s class we also saw big changes all through the race. The winner in the end, Joey Hadorn, SUI, was only in 10thposition at the second TV-split but a both fast and clean last part of the course he won, but only with a margin of three seconds down to teammate Daniel Hubmann who took his 73rd podium place in his phenomenal career. It was the opposite for third place Simon Hector, SWE who took his first podium place when he finished 3rd.
The Orienteering World Cup events in Idre Fjäll ends Sunday 15th August with the relays on the very same arena as for the middle distance, Arena Gränjesåsvallen.
Results Middle distance
Women
- Hanna Lundberg, SWE
- Simona Aebersold, SUI
- Natalia Gemperle, RUS
Men
- Joey Hadorn, Sui
- Daniel Hubmann, SUI
- Simon Hector, SWE