World MTB Orienteering Championships – second gold for Tõnis Erm

World MTB Orienteering Championships – second gold for Tõnis Erm

Home rider Tõnis Erm has clearly hit top form at just the right time; today he won his second gold medal in two days, winning the Middle distance race at Mõedaka in Estonia by 5 seconds. The very experienced Marika Hara, Finland, second in the IOF World Rankings before these Championships, took the women’s title.

Erm was pushed hard for his win today; the next 7 in the results list all finished less than 45 seconds slower. Closest was Anton Foliforov, Russia, with Samuli Saarela in bronze medal position a further 7 seconds down. Five different nations took podium places.

Silver medal in the women’s race went to the ever-improving Emily Benham, Great Britain, who was 33 seconds down on the winning time. Susanna Laurila, Finland took the bronze medal with a time 1.58 slower than Marika Hara’s.  

In the Junior Championships, Svetlana Poverina, Russia, won the women’s title by the extremely impressive margin at Middle distance of 3 minutes and 37 seconds. The men’s title, as in the Sprint, was won by Cedric Beill, France, today by 22 seconds.

Tomorrow (Thursday) is a rest day, and the Championship races resume on Friday with the Relay, where the arena and competition area – “suburban forest” –  is at the Event Centre in Rakvere.

Leading results – Middle distance

Women

1. Marika Hara FIN 39:31
2. Emily Benham GBR 40:04
3. Susanna Laurila FIN 41:29
4. Olga Vinogradova RUS 41:33
5. Tatiana Repina RUS 42:26
6. Cecilia Thomasson SWE 42:49

Men

1. Tõnis Erm EST 47:41
2. Anton Foliforov RUS 47:46
3. Samuli Saarela FIN 47:53
4. Ruslan Gritsan RUS 47:59
5. Luca Dallavalle ITA 48:09
6. Hans Jørgen Kvåle NOR & Jussi Laurila FIN 48:15

Junior World Championships – Middle distance medallists

Women

Gold – Svetlana Poverina RUS

Silver – Henna Saarinen FIN

Bronze – Ruska Saarela FIN

Men

Gold – Cedric Beill FRA

Silver – Vojtech Ludvik CZE

Bronze – Oskar Sandberg SWE