EMTBOC 2015: "Le Jour de Gloire est Arrivé!"

The mazy streets of Idanha-a-Nova were the scenery, in today’s torrid morning, of the first of five finals in the European MTB Orienteering Championships 2015. Great protagonist of this opening day, the France get the triumph in the Mixed Sprint Relay, both in Elite and Junior categories.

It is found the first winner of the European MTB Orienteering Championships 2015, taking place at Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal, from today to next Saturday. Thanks to an extraordinary Gäelle Barlet’s first leg, the France won, categorically, the Mixed Sprint Relay, a race in which lined 15 teams of two elements each.

Alongside with Baptiste Fuchs, the World Champion in Sprint 2011 (Vicenza, Italy) had a brilliant start, ensuring a “fat” advantage of 1:28 over the second classified, the Finnish Marika Hara at the end of the first leg. The following three legs were a sort of “resource management”, leading with the threat of the Czech Republic (Martina Tichovska and Jiri Hradil) that would finish in second place. European champions in 2013 (Zamosc, Poland), the Finland (Marika Hara and Jussi Laurila) finishes in the third place.

Portugal finished 8th

Individually, highlight the Russian Anton Foliforov who fit the two best times in the male legs and the Swedish Cecilia Thomasson, the fastest in the third leg. On the other hand, the Russian Svetlana Poverina was unrecognizable and also a word to the teams of Italy, Denmark and Spain, disqualified for "mp". With Ana Filipa Silva and João Ferreira, the team of Portugal finished the race in the 8th position. To emphasize, above all, the last leg of João Ferreira, full of determination and will, to win two positions almost over the finish line.

Although its non official character, also in the Junior category took place the Mixed Sprint Relay, in which the French team would also be the strongest. Lou Denaix did two good legs but Florian Pinsard made the difference, showing that could be headed another great star of the MTB Orienteering world. Russia, with Olga Mikhailova and Iurii Balev, finished second, while Finland (Essi Hakala and Sakari Puolakanaho) completed the podium and Portugal (Ana Margarida Rocha and Paul Roothans) was ranked seventh. Also in the category of Youth Portugal was ranked seventh in a race won by Russia (Daria Mikryukova and Valeriy Rodin).

Results

1. France (Gäelle Barlet / Baptiste Fuchs) 44:09

2. Czech Republic (Martina Tichovska ( Jiri Hradil) 45:59

3. Finland (Marika Hara / Jussi Laurila) 46:41

4. Sweden (Cecilia Thomasson / Marcus Jansson) 46:49

5. Austria (Marina Reiner / Kevin Haselsberger) 47:57

6. Lithuania (Asta Simkoniene / Jonas Maiselis) 48:14

7. Russia (Svetlana Poverina / Anton Foliforov) 48:38

8. Portugal (Ana Filipa Silva / João Ferreira) 54:39

9. Germany (Anke Danowski / Olaf Kaden) 55:42

10. Slovakia (Stanislava Fajtova / Rastilav Malatek) 56:47

Complete results and further information at http://mtbo15.fpo.pt/.

[Photo courtesy: Fernando Costa / Orievents.com]

Joaquim Margarido

EMTBOC 2015: Meet Svetlana Poverina (Russia)

Name: Svetlana Poverina Age: 22 Home location: Moscow, Russia Profession and educational background: Athlete. Student at the Moscow Sports Institute. Years in sport of any kind: I've been doing Orienteering since I was a child, since my parents were, also, athletes. Years in MTBO: I've started riding a bike at the age of 11-12 years. What got you started: My parents. IOF World Ranking: 2nd position MTBO World Cup 2015: 3rd position

What is your best moment in MTB Orienteering so far?

- My best moments in the MTBO are all my victories. I cannot single out one particular, they are all good.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

- My inspiration comes from my dream of winning, which I want to make real.

What are your goals for the European Championships, in Portugal?

- My ultimate goal is to achieve the best place possible, but now with my studying I cannot fully concentrate on the races at Portugal.

What is your biggest challenge in the competition, and how do you intend to manage it?

- The most complex challenge it to keep my thinking and running synchronized. Sometimes I run too fast and don't always think correctly and, because of it, I make mistakes.

What would be your ultimate achievement for the season?

- Let us wait and see.

Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?

- Faster, higher, stronger!

[Photo credits: Anastasia Skopinskaya]

Joaquim Margarido

  

EMTBOC 2015: Meet Jiří Hradil (Czech Republic)

Name: Jiří Hradil Age: 29 Home location: Zlín, Czech Republic Profession and educational background: Technical University in Brno, currently working as a bike mechanic at ForRide.cz. Years in sport of any kind: 20 years. Years in MTBO: 13 years. What got you started: I just wanted to try it. IOF World Ranking: 3rd position MTBO World Cup 2015: 12th position

What is your best moment in MTB Orienteering so far?

- Being the fastest finisher at the 5 days of competition, in Pilsen.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

- From my team colleague, Ivo Odvárka.

What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?

- This season I haven't achieved any big success so far.

What are your goals for the European Championships, in Portugal?

- I hope I will have some success there. I would like to ride as fast as I can with no mistakes. If not, I would like to enjoy this week as a holiday.

What is your biggest challenge in the competition, and how do you intend to manage it?

- My biggest challenge is running a clean race, with no mistakes.

What would be your ultimate achievement for the season?

- I'm looking forward to getting a medal.

[Photo courtesy: Jiří Hradil]

Joaquim Margarido

EMTBOC 2015: Final countdown!

Portugal is prepared to host the seventh edition of the European MTB Orienteering Championships. All the ways lead to Idanha-a-Nova where, over the next week, the world starts will be hitting by the conquest of the European titles in Sprint, Middle Distance, Long Distance, Relay and Mixed Sprint Relay.

From tomorrow and until next June 13th, the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova is the venue chosen for the European MTB Orienteering Championships 2015. After the World Championships 2010, the final round of World Cup in 2013 and, at the same time, the World Masters MTB Orienteering Championships 2013 - and even before the World Championships next year, at Bairrada region- the Portuguese Orienteering Federation back to receive the warmest recognition and trust from the International Orienteering Federation, organizing the second most important event of the world's competitive calendar in 2015. To do that, the Portuguese Orienteering Federation has the invaluable support of the Municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth and almost a hundred volunteers from many national Orienteering clubs, saying “yes” in another of the great moments of the Portuguese Orienteering Federation's life, blowing 25 candles this year.

Alongside the big event will take place also at Idanha-a-Nova the Junior European MTB Orienteering Championships 2015, the Youth European MTB Orienteering Championships 2015 - here in its first edition - and the World Masters MTB Orienteering Championships 2015, calling to Portugal 376 competitors, representing 24 countries. Alongside the usual “heavyweights” - Russia, Finland and the Czech Republic - we can find in the list of participants, aged between 17 y.o. And 79 y.o., representatives from Australia and New Zealand, the US, Japan and from Turkey, among others. Portugal will be represented by a total of 47 athletes distributed for several classes, with natural emphasis on the presence of Carlos Simões, seeking here to recover the three world titles won in 2013 in M40 class, and Susana Pontes, owner of three bronze medals won in the events of Sprint's most recent World Championships and being in Idanha-a-Nova with the aim of a more “heavy” medal.

Foliforov and Benham, headliners

Paying attention to the list of 62 male athletes and 40 female athletes entered in the European MTB Orienteering Championships, stand out immediately the names of Anton Foliforov (Russia) and Emily Benham (Great Britain). Both lead the International Orienteering Federation's World Ranking and come to Portugal in excellent shape, having been leading figures in the first round of the World Cup 2015 held in Várgesztes (Hungary) in early May. Moreover Emily Benham defends the European title of Middle Distance as Foliforov, currently the World Champion in Sprint and Long Distance, set as a personal goal to win his first gold medal in the European Championships.

Jussi Laurila (Finland), Valeriy Gluhov (Russia), Cecilia Thomasson (Sweden) and Marika Hara (Finland) are also main references of the European championships of Idanha-a-Nova, here defending their titles achieved in June 2013, in Zamosc (Poland ). Jussi Laurila is the current leader of the World Cup in Mountain Bike Orienteering 2015 and is in the European championships defending his title of Sprint. Marika Hara dominated the panorama of mountain bike orienteering women in the past three years and is the current European and World Champion in Sprint. Middle Distance World Champion in title, Cecilia Thomasson appears at Idanha-a-Nova defending her European title of Long Distance. Finally Valeriy Gluhov is the holder of the gold medal won in the previous European Championships, in the Middle Distance.

Many “roosters” for a few “perches”

Also retain the names to the fight for the highest places on the podium of Ruslan Gritsan, Tatiana Repina and Svetlana Poverina (Russia), Baptiste Fuchs, Gäelle Barlet and Hana Garde (France), Jiri Hradil and Martina Tichovska (Czech Republic), Pekka Niemi and Ingrid Stengard (Finland), Lauri Malsroos and Hans Jorgen Kvale (Norway). They all boast European and World podiums in the curriculum - with six gold medals won in individual events, the Russian Ruslan Gritsan is even the most medaled athlete ever in twelve editions of the World Championships - and are natural candidates to the medals. Collectively, the Estonia should resent from the absence of Tõnis Erm and will hardly repeat the feat of Bialystock, when was the winner of the Relay World title in the Men class 2014 while Finland defends their European title of Relay (Men and Women) and Mixed Sprint Relay. Great rivals of the Finns, Russia presents itself as a strong contender for the gold – it is the current World Champion in title - and it is not neglecting the France, Czech Republic and even Austria and Denmark as sets with reasonable expectations and natural aspiration.

As for the World Masters MTB Orienteering Championships, to highlight the presence in Portugal of many of the great names in the MTB Orienteering world over the age of 40. This is the case of the World Champions in Sprint, Per Gustavsson (Sweden) in M50 and Ing-Marie Andrén (Sweden) in W60, the World Champions in Middle Distance, Jean-Charles Lalevee (France) in M50 and Birgit Hausner (Denmark ) in W60, the World Champion in Long Distance, Olli Savikko (Finland) in M50, the World Champion in Sprint and Middle Distance, Jan Hausner (Denmark) in M70 and the World Champions in Middle Distance and Long Distance, Carolyn Jackson (Australia) in W50 and Heiki Saarinen (Finland) in M60.

To know more about the European MTB Orienteering Championships 2015, please consult the event webpage at http://mtbo15.fpo.pt/.

Joaquim Margarido

EMTBOC 2015: Meet Yoann Garde (France)

Name: Yoann Garde Age: 31 Home location: Pélussin, France Profession and educational background: Fruit juice producer. Years in sport of any kind: I have always done sports and I started doing Foot orienteering in 1993. Years in MTBO: Training since 2007 but my first race was in 1998. What got you started: I was in the French Team B in Foot orienteering but after many injuries I decided to try MTBO. Other personal information you would like to share: With Hana, we have a beautiful daughter, Alena. IOF World Ranking: 18th position MTBO World Cup 2015: 5th position

What is your best moment in MTB Orienteering so far?

- So many good moments!!... I was in my best shape in the World Cup in Poland 2012. But the World Championships in Italy were really good also.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

- I like outdoor sports and I have to add the good atmosphere in the French team.

What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?

- I like doing different sports (Foot-O, MTBO and cycling). I usually meet the road bike club in Pelussin, for training.

What are your goals for the European Championships, in Portugal?

- To have fun and do my best.

What is your biggest challenge in the competition, and how do you intend to manage it?

- To keep a clear mind and strong legs, specially with lots of climbing.

What would be your ultimate achievement for the season?

- A podium in the European or the World Championships.

Anything else you’d like to share?

- I want to thank to all my family and my training partner's, and especially to my parents for their help with Alena.

[Photo credits: Hana Garde]

Joaquim Margarido