World Rankings leader Michaela Gigon, Austria won the first race in this year’s World Cup season, a sprint, held at Balatonfüred on the northern shore of Lake Balaton, Hungary. The men’s race was won by the Finnish rider Samuli Saarela.

Michaela Gigon completed the 5.9 km course in 26:17, which is 17 seconds quicker than the Finn Ingrid Stengård who is ranked number 5 on the World Ranking. Her compatriot Marika Hara was third, a further 10 seconds down, whilst the current Sprint World Champion, Hana Bajtošová from Slovakia, finished fourth.

Eleventh-ranked Samuli Saarela had an impressive victory by exactly one minute over European Champion Erik S. Knudsen, Denmark, ranked number 6 on the World Ranking. Saarela took 25:55 to cover the 7.0 km. The Czech rider Jaroslav Rygl took third place, 20 seconds slower than Knudsen.

The first round continues on Saturday with a middle distance race (10 km for women, 14 km for men).

Leading results

Women

1) Michaela Gigon AUT 26:17
2) Ingrid Stengård FIN 26:34
3) Marika Hara FIN 26:44
4) Hana Bajtošová SVK 27:06
5) Nadia Mikryukova RUS 27:50
6) Rikke Kornvig DEN 28:02

Men

1) Samuli Saarela FIN 25:55
2) Erik Skovgaard Knudsen DEN 26:55
3) Jaroslav Rygl CZE 27:15
4) Radek Laciga CZE 27:31
5) Jussi Laurila FIN 27:35
6) Tobias Breitschädel AUT 27:42