Simone Niggli, Switzerland, and Valentin Novikov, Russia, took convincing victories on the middle distance in the European Championships in Bulgaria today. Niggli’s winning margin was almost two minutes, but the fight for silver was tighter: Signe Søes, Denmark, beat the Swede Lena Eliasson by merely seven seconds.

In the men’s class Novikov was also clearly faster than silver medallist Matthias Merz, Switzerland, who in his turn was just six seconds ahead of his compatriot, last year’s long distance world champion Daniel Hubmann.

 Photo: Erik Borg

Leading results

Women

1) Simone Niggli SUI 33:07
2) Signe Soes DEN 35:06
3) Lena Eliasson SWE 35:19
4) Helena Jansson SWE 35:24
5) Minna Kauppi FIN 35:49
6) Vroni König-Salmi SUI 36:04

Men

1) Valentin Novikov RUS 34:09
2) Matthias Merz SUI 35:30
3) Daniel Hubmann SUI 35:36
4) Emil Wingstedt SWE 35:47
5) Alexey Bortnik RUS 36:17
6) Tero Föhr FIN 36:21

 Photo: Erik Borg

Valentin Novikov won both middle distance qualification and middle final.