Above Photo by IOF

Alexandersson started strongly and was the fastest by 24 seconds at control 5, a lead that was extended to 48 seconds at the second TV control. She made a 40-second error in the later stages but so did her closest challenger, the Russian Natalia Gemperle, and the final result was a 30-second gap between the two. Switzerland demonstrated strength in depth in taking the next 5 places in the results, third place in the race going to Julia Jakob who was 55 seconds down on Alexandersson’s time.

Above Photo by IOF

Bergman also was the fastest throughout. Tim Robertson, New Zealand started equally strongly and was only 7 seconds down at the first timing point, but later dropped back. Joey Hadorn, Switzerland and Lucas Basset, France, finishing second and third, both had some problems early on but ran strongly in the second half of the race; Hadorn was 8^th at the half-way point and Basset 10^th. Switzerland again scored strongly with three athletes in the top six.

The races were held in quite hilly and very varied terrain that gave problems for many athletes. For both women and men, winning times were relatively long for a Middle distance.

Leading results, Middle distance – to be updated: all women’s, and first 4 men’s results, are confirmed but full results of the men’s race await jury decisions.

Official Results - Women

1st.  Tove Alexandersson (SWE) 41:33

2nd.  Natalia Gemperle (RUS) 42:03

3rd.  Julia Jakob (SUI) 42:28

4th.  Simona Aebersold (SUI) 44:36

5th.  Sarina Jenzer (SUI) 44:55

6th.  Elena Roos (SUI) 44:59

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74th. Cecilie Andersen (GBR) 1:08:19 (+26:46)

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Cecilie Andersen was the sole British runner.

The sprint focused GBR women Charlotte Ward and Kirstin Maxwell did not start (in company with other nations' sprint runners).

Men

1.  Gustav Bergman (SWE) 40:12

With the 100 points score on today’s Middle distance it is decided, Gustav Bergman is the “WINNER OF THE ORIENTEERING WORLD CUP 2019”.

2. Joey Hadorn (SUI)
3. Lucas Basset (FRA)
4. Andreas Kyburz (SUI)
5. TBD, Waiting jury decision (Meeting 13:20 CET UTC+2)
6. TBD, Waiting jury decision (Meeting 13:20 CET UTC+2)

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GB Men results awaiting the official finalisation.

• Ben Mitchell (GBR)
• Chris Smithard (GBR)
• Jonny Crickmore (GBR)
• Peter Hodkinson (GBR)
• Will Gardner (GBR)
• Ralph Street (GBR)

Full results can be found here when finalised.   

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Tomorrow (Sunday 27 October) is the Sprint Relay and on Tuesday (29 October) the final individual race, a Sprint. Can Tove Alexandersson achieve a ‘clean sweep’, winning all the World Cup races in this season?