 onemanfanclub
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Posted: 24 August 2007, 12:36 PM
Time I cursed a few teams by making some predictions for tomorrow...
Women:
Medals will go to 3 of the 4 old school countries, but in what order? I say G Switzerland, S Sweden, B Finland
Switzerland once again spoilt for choice in how to make up their team. Finland will still be coming down from yesterday, and it's telling I can't think who'd fill the 3rd vacancy in the team. I rate Sweden because their women have been doing what they've done in the last few worlds - no stunning results but consistently just under the radar. Plus Maprunner (who's an even bigger WOC geek than I am) points out the Swedes have a medal from every World Champs women's relay ever run. Norway won't quite be good enough, even with Hausken getting back to her best. If there's to be a surprise? Czech Rep.
Men:
Much harder, especially if some who haven't been performing suddenly click "on". The one team that hasn't had at least one star discount themselves in my eye is Russia, so I'll pick them to do something that hasn't been done in a while: defend a relay world title. Switzerland, if Lauenstein's back on his feet their biggest obstacle, so I'll give them silver. Bronze for Finland if Lakanen's fit OR if he realises he isn't and stands down (something like Haldin, Fohr and Huovila would look pretty good still). If Jani does try to run but isn't up to it, then France might be there to take advantage, though Renard and Gonon look a lot wobblier than usual so far. Sweden, Norway and Czech in contention if their top runners live up to reputation, Britain in contention if they don't. And if anyone can afford to lose $100 on a long-odds speculation at a Scandinavian betting site... Ukraine. Omeltchenko, Mukhidinov, Ushkvarok, home terrain... who knows?
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Michael
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Posted: 24 August 2007, 2:15 PM
And how about a philOsOphical ramble from Paul I? Don't take any notice of the detractors...
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Paul I
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Posted: 25 August 2007, 9:31 AM
Good call Nic
Now that the teams have been announced (who’s missing from injury or illness), we can think about how the races may unfold.
I’m not too sure how philosophical this is but I’ll add my thoughts to Nic’s as part of the forum lead-up as interest quickly builds to the relay showdown. Please don’t take my ramblings too seriously, I don’t pretend to be any kind of expert at this.
The Relay area:
The relays will be held on the same map as the epic long final, Golosiivo Forest in the heart of Kiev. This time at a scale of 1:10000.
The Arena will be the same as for the long distance race, so my guess is that the courses will make use of the southwest part of the map with a bit added to the west, taking the race away from so much of the built up areas and a little flatter, on the first two men’s legs there is still 175m of climb. There looks to be a lot of potential to make some nice confusing legs criss-crossing the complex track network. There will no doubt be some very quick times in this terrain. The setters have estimated that the men will run at just over 4 ½ m/km, and the women at 6 ½ m/km.
This year the first two legs are longer with the last leg of the race being a far shorter race. The pressure will be full on everyone, with less distance to make up for lost time on the last leg.
Men: L1 8.6km (EWT 40min), L2 8.6 (40), L3 6.5 (35)
Women: L1 6.1km (EWT 40min), L2 6.1 (40), L3 5.4 (30)
Looking at the teams…. (In order of last years WOC Relay results)
MEN
1.RUSSIA: Efimov/ Khramov/ Novikov.
Full of stars. This is the same team, in the same order as lasts years winning team, can they make history as Nic says and defend their title?
Each one has been in awesome form so far, all of them have also run in the epic long distance race in energy sapping heat. Will it fatigue take its toll?
2.FINLAND: Huovila/ Ikonen/ Fohr.
Tero Fohr has been outstanding at these championships so far while Huovila has done well at the middle. Ikonen has had a disappointing WOC so far for such a great orienteer – will he come right? Notably missing from the Fins are the Lakenen the great and M Haldin.
3.SWEDEN: Oberg/ Andersson/ Wingstedt.
Oberg and Andersson have been in great form in the middles, while speedster Wingstedt had a great mid qual. Race but slipped up a little in the sprint qual.
Missing from last years 3rd place team is the Swedish star N. Jonasson who got fastest time last year.
4.SWITZERLAND:
Schneider/ Hubmann/ Merz.
Illness has struck down the swiss star Lauenstein, however they have such a wealth of telent that even Rollier and Mueller miss the relay spot. Even without Lauenstein all these guys have been in devastating form so far.
5.CZECH: Prochazka/ Jedlicka/ Smola.
While Smola has been running very well as always his team mates havn’t been near the top. Can they repeat last years fantastic relay result?
6.NORWAY: Hott/ Nordberg/ Weltzien.
This looks like a very good team from Norway. Having Osterbo and young JWOC star Lundanes sitting it out is one heck of a luxury (unless they are ill)!
Hott and Nordberg have run fantastic qual and final middle distance races; however both Hott and Weltzien pulled out of the gruelling long final. Was it fatigue, illness, or were they saving the best for last after some trouble?
7.LATVIA:
A very reasonable team once again from Latvia, with their shining star SSirmais running the last leg.
8.DENMARK:
None of Denmark’s sprint specialists appear to be in the team and they don’t seem to be going as well as on home ground.
9.UKRAINE:
Mukhidinov/ Ushkvarok/ Kratov.
Home ground, what can they show us today? Unfortunately for them, missing presumably to illness, is Omelchenko who never completed the long final. Never the less all these guys have been running well.
10.ESTONIA: The middle runner Olle Karner should be Estonia’s trump card.
11.FRANCE:
Gonan/ Renard/ Gueogiou.
Having only finished 11th last year France will no doubt show us what they can really do in a relay event. Gonan and Renard haven’t quite been up to their usual standard, with some obvious disappointing runs, they’re sure to come right sometime soon, then, imagine having Theirry G as your last leg runner!
12.SLOVAKIA:
Davidik/ Pijak/ Bartak.
13.ITALY:
Schgaguler/ Mamleev/ Seppi
Mamleev and Seppi are very well known names of course.
14.GREAT BRITTAIN:
Gristwood (GG) /Duncan/ Stevenson.
I believe this talented team can pull off a fantastic result. A top 5 or 6 pick for me. Matt Crane didn’t even get a spot!
Then there’s the down under teams. How will we fare?
The battle between the Kiwis and Aussies alone will be interesting.
First up Aussie TDH starts off against Ross M. Who has the best legs here? Ross has had an exceptional middle qual race, while TDH narrowly missed in the sprint qual due to an error.
On the 2nd leg Julian D run’s against Rob J. While Rob must be our most consistently well performed male orienteer, younger Julian is going from strength to strength as his international career progresses, he’s sure to run a blinder.
On the final shorter leg, winner takes all. Rob W verses Chris F. Well who can tell? Both very good runners, who will best handle the pressure?
Rob has disappointed himself so far but should now be well rested and rearing to go, while Chris has been performing very well at Kiev so far. Will Chris’s foot injury affect his run? Is this great running machine able to sustain another big race or will fatigue start to take hold?
Last year Austraila 20. NZ 23.
We are about to find out all the answers to all these questions and more.
It’s all on!
Is someone else able to do a bit of an outline on the women’s race, I‘ve run out of steam!
This message was edited by Paul I on 25 August 2007, 6:46 PM
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mick finn
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Posted: 25 August 2007, 9:43 AM
yeah Sweden v Czech in the women I reckon, maybe the aussies will improve on 6th
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Jenni
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Posted: 25 August 2007, 10:27 AM
Weren't the Aussie women 4th last year?
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rob.g
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Posted: 25 August 2007, 10:31 AM
Paul,I dispute that comment about Rob J as Alistair Landels is by far our best performed, and as for consistancy Rob J is not and usually has not been consistant.
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mick finn
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Posted: 25 August 2007, 10:35 AM
yeah jenni, quick post the was cooking up dinner for the boys and it all came back to me; pretty hard to improve on that eh
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Paul I
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Posted: 25 August 2007, 10:43 AM
Oh rob, fair comment. Alistair has been out of my mind as Iv'e been away from O so long and I'm just going on what I know about Rob J.
Thanks for the reminder!
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onemanfanclub
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Posted: 25 August 2007, 10:51 AM
Very little break up in the womens' pack at the first radio - shame we don't have a team, I can imagine Tania running in the middle of that with a big grin on her face. Weltzien and Fritschy doing the navigating...
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Bryn
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Posted: 25 August 2007, 10:57 AM
Just read this on live reports.
09:48:18 - An old lorry with a big tank on the back drives suddenly along the track in the spectator area and through the changeover run-out! We hope this kind of thing doesn't happen at a busy changeover time. A high-speed car has just also used the same route. Normally no traffic at all.
Sounds well organized
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onemanfanclub
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Posted: 25 August 2007, 10:57 AM
RUS, FIN and DEN have opened up a break, prob over a minute by now
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onemanfanclub
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Posted: 25 August 2007, 10:59 AM
Runners being missed at the radio control...
Rus, Swe, and Fin first thru the spec
Den + 53 secs
GBR, Hun, LTU just behind Olesen
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mick finn
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Posted: 25 August 2007, 11:03 AM
looks pretty close all round
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onemanfanclub
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Posted: 25 August 2007, 11:11 AM
Sweden and Rus 1st change, 22 secs apart
Fin, Den, Nor on their way in 1.5 minutes behind - Weltzien's made up a good bit of ground in last section
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onemanfanclub
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Posted: 25 August 2007, 11:17 AM
From Billstam's comments: terrain varied across course but technically easier than middle and some good opportunites for fast running
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onemanfanclub
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Posted: 25 August 2007, 11:25 AM
At the 3rd control, Heli and the Russian together 30 secs behind Sweden, then 2+ minutes back to Nor and Den
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