EOC 2016: Long Distance titles to Hubmann and Alexandersson

Daniel Hubmann, Switzerland, and Tove Alexandersson, Sweden, got the gold in the EOC's Long Distance final, hold early afternoon at Bila Vodá. The silver went to Norway, thanks to Magne Dæhli and Anne Margrethe Hausken Nordberg.

Daniel Hubmann. Switzerland, won the Men class with the time of 1:36:25. Having as a major goal the defense of his title, Hubmann had some troubles in the first controls, but managed to reach the best split time in the longest leg, on the way to the 6th control. He took the lead in a definitive way in the 11th control and was very consistent – and also very cautious – until the finish. “That was a tough race, but I managed to keep the speed till the end and I did good route choices. Now I'm very tired, but of course very happy”, said Hubmann in the end. The Norwegian Magne Dæhli did a great race and was second, 1:22 under Hubmann, which is the best place ever of his career. In his first EOC, the Swedish Martin Regborn upgraded the fourth place achieved in yesterday's Sprint and took a precious third place with the time of 1:38:33, which is his best ever so far. Sprint European Champion, the Swiss Matthias Kyburz missed once again a medal in a forest race, standing in the 7th position, at close 4 seconds to the podium places.

Having never reached a gold medal in the World or European Championships, the Swedih Tove Alexandersson finally managed to be the fastest, winning after a close race with the Norwegian Anne Margrethe Hausken Nordberg. With a strong start, Alexandersson took the leadership in the second control and never let it go since there. With a comfortable advantage in the final part of her course, the Swedish lose two minutes on her way to the last long leg and saw Hausken Nordberg approaches dangerously. In the end, Tove Alexandersson would register the time of 1:14:20, against 1:15:01 of her closer opponent. “It feels absolutely amazing. Apart from the mistake at the end, I made a very good race. It was a calm and stable race from the start. I have tried not to push too hard on the slopes and avoided the toughest slopes”, Alexandersson said in the end. Svetlana Mironova, Russia, got the third place, 2:33 after Alexandersson.

Results

Men class

1. Daniel Hubmann (Switzerland) 1:36:25 (+ 00:00)

2. Magne Daehli (Norway) 1:37:47 (+ 01:22)

3. Martin Regborn (Sweden) 1:38:33 (+ 02:08)

4. Carl Godager Kaas (Norway) 1:38:35 (+ 02:10)

5. Baptiste Rollier (Switzerlan) 1:39:23 (+ 02:58)

6. Fredrik Bakkman (Sweden) 1:39:32 (03:07

Women class

1. Tove Alexandersson (Sweden) 1:14:20 (+ 00:00)

2. Anne-Margrethe Hausken Nordberg (Norway) 1:15:01 (+ 00:41)

3. Svetlana Mironova (Russia) 1:16:53 (+ 02:33)

4. Natalia Vinogradova (Russia) 1:17:17 (+ 02:57)

5. Sabine Hauswirth (Switzerland) 1:18:24 (+ 04:04)

6. Hollie Orr (Great Britain) 1:18:50 (+ 04:30)

Complete results and further information to check at http://www.eoc2016.cz/en/.

Joaquim Margarido