World MTB Orienteering Championships: Middle distance gold to Finland and Denmark
Posted on | August 11, 2009 | Category: News
The World Mountain Bike Orienteering Championships take place in Israel this week. Long distance qualification race was held yesterday, and the finals kicked off today with middle distance competition in Ben Shemen Forest. In the women’s race, Finland’s Marika Hara rode to a clear victory before Michaela Gigon, Austria, who finished second on this same distance a year ago as well. Bronze medal in today’s competition went to last year’s long distance winner Christine Schaffner, Switzerland.
As expected, the reigning relay world champion Denmark was strong in the men’s competition. Torbjørn Gasbjerg won the race with a winning margin of 32 seconds before Jiri Hradil, Czech Republic. Last year’s sprint world champion Lasse Brun Pedersen, Denmark, finished third. There were four Russian men amongst the ten best. Fastest of them was Anton Foliforov on fourth place. The middle distance world champion from 2008, Adrian Jackson, Australia, was almost three minutes slower than Torbjørn Gasbjerg and finished fifth.
The competitions continue with relay on Thursday. For online results during the races, please visit the organiser’s homepage.
Leading results
Women (Length: 15.6 km, Climb: 225 m, 15 controls)
1) Marika Hara FIN 52:22
2) Michaela Gigon AUT 53:23
3) Christine Schaffner SUI 53:44
4) Hana Bajtosova SVK 53:49
5) Ingrid Stengård FIN 54:11
6) Anna Fuzy HUN 56:07
Men (Length: 20.4 km, Climb: 355 m, 19 controls)
1) Torbjørn Gasbjerg DEN 56:27
2) Jiri Hradil CZE 57:09
3) Lasse Brun Pedersen DEN 57:17
4) Anton Foliforov RUS 57:30
5) Adrian Jackson AUS 59:19
6) Beat Okle SUI 1:00:19
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