EOC 2016: Gold in the Sprint to Kyburz and Wyder

Matthias Kyburz and Judith Wyder offered to Switzerland a really tasteful double win. After a tricky Sprint in the hilly city of Jesenik, they got close victories on Gustav Bergman and Nadiya Volynska, respectively.

In the Men class, Matthias Kyburz decided the race in the last controls. Since the beginning, it was possible to watch a really close fight between Kyburz, his team mate Florian Howald and the Swedish Gustav Bergman. After a mistake on his way to the 6th control, Kyburz lost precious seconds and wasn't able to reduce the disadvantage, thanks to consistent performances from Howald and Bergman. Stronger than his opponents in the two last controls, the Swiss saw his efforts rewarded with the gold, two seconds ahead of Bergman, with Howald finishing with more three seconds than the winner. The IOF Sprint Orienteering World Ranking leader, the Swiss Daniel Hubmann, finished 5th, 26 seconds after Kyburz. Before him stayed the Swedish Martin Regborn, with the time of 13:59, reaching with the fourth position his best result ever in a World Cup stage. Also the Norwegian Hakon Jarvis Westergaard got his best result ever in a World Cup stage, finishing sixth. The Portuguese Tiago Romão reached an honourable place in the Final A, finishing in the 41st position, 2:10 after the winner.

Defending the European title achieved in Portugal two years ago, the Swiss Judith Wyder showed all her potential after a long period of injuries. Against strong adversaries like the Danish Maja Alm, reigning World Champion, the Ukrainian Nadiya Volynska or the Russian Galina Vinogradova, she could perform in the limit and win, even doing a couple of small mistakes, like everybody else. With a strong start, Wyder could keep the lead through the race, benefiting from Maja Alm's mistake in the longest leg, on her way to the 11th control. In the end, Wyder got a 5 seconds win on Volynska, with Vinogradova and Alm finishing third with the same time,11 seconds after the Swiss, and the Finnish Merja Rantanen being 5th, 13 seconds after Wyder. Elena Roos, Switzerland, got the 6th place, her best ever in a stage scoring for the World Cup.

Results

Men

1. Matthias Kyburz (Switzerland) 13:42 (+ 00:00)

2. Gustav Bergman (Sweden) 13:44 (+ 00:02)

3. Florian Howald (Switzerland) 13:45 (+ 00:03)

4. Martin Regborn (Sweden) 13:59 (+ 00:17)

5. Daniel Hubmann (Switzerland) 14:08 (+ 00:26)

6. Hakon Jarvis Westergaard (Norway) 14:16 (+ 00:34)

Women

1. Judith Wyder (Switzerland) 14:23 (+ 00:00)

2. Nadiya Volynska (Ukraine) 14:28 (+ 00:05)

3. Galina Vinogradova (14:34 (+ 00:11)

3. Maja Alm (Denmark) 14:34 (+ 00:11)

5. Merja Rantanen (Finland) 14:36 (+ 00:13)

6. Elena Roos (Switzerland) 14:52 (+ 00:29)

Complete results, maps, photos and further information at http://www.eoc2016.cz/en/.

[Photo: FEDO / fedo.org]

Joaquim Margarido