Junior World Ski Orienteering Championships: repeat win for Finland’s Tuomala
Posted on | February 20, 2014 | Category: News
The second competition day of the Championships featured the Long distance race, in three loops with a mass start. Misa Tuomala, Finland won the men’s race for the second year in succession, but by only 3 seconds in a thrilling finish. In the women’s race it was success for Evelina Wickbom, Sweden who enjoyed a comfortable victory over her compatriot Frida Sandberg.
Tuomala had a slow start and was well down the field in the first loop, but pulled up gradually and led in the final third of the race. Second in the Sprint in these Championships in 2012, he had to pull out all his sprint capability at the end to hold off the challenge from Sergey Gorlanov, Russia, Middle distance bronze medallist yesterday. The Latvian Nauris Raize was also in contention for the gold but had to settle for bronze medal position, 10 seconds down on the winner. Middle distance Champion Jonas Madslien Bakken finished fifth.
Frida Sandberg could not maintain the sequence of individual gold medals – 3 last year and the Middle this year – and was beaten into silver medal position by 1.11. Wickbom was in 27th place after 9 controls on the 26-control course, but had a good middle section and gradually established a good lead. Sandberg led throughout the middle part of the race. Russia’s Liubov Balandina was bronze medallist, just 2 seconds behind Sandberg.
In the European Youth Championships, home athlete Doris Kudre won the women’s race by 9 seconds. In the men’s race, yesterday’s gold and silver medallists swopped places; today Vladislav Kiselev from Russia built up a commanding lead and won by 1.56.
Friday is a rest day; competition resumes on Saturday with the Sprint.
Leading results
Women (W20) 11.15 km, 26 controls
- Evelina Wickbom SWE 51:00
- Frida Sandberg SWE 52:11
- Liubov Balandina RUS 52:13
Men (M20) 13.45 km, 31 controls
- Misa Tuomala FIN 54:38
- Sergey Gorlanov RUS 54:41
- Nauris Raize LAT 54:48
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