WOC Long final - who's going to win?

[Tatty]

Who will become King & Queen of the forest today?
It's a brave person who would bet against Simone Niggli not winning, although there are 3 Swedes (Claesson, Jansson & Bulskram) who ran well in the Qualifier, as did Minna Kauppi(FIN) and the Norweigan pairing of Andersen and Hausken.
In the Men's race the power shifts to Switzerland, with 3 top contenders - Hertner, Hubmann and Metz. You can never discount Gueorgiou and Gonan of France along with the Finnish pair of Haldin and Lakanen. The home favourite, Lundanes, won his qualifier and has the home advantage. And Scotia of course A more difficult one to call.
The races start at 2pm this afternoon.

[andypat]

Fingers crossed that Scotia can fulfil his potential with a good result!

[Paul T]

It will be interesting to see how effective the forking system is. With a 2 minute start interval, it better be good!
What are the odds on JD (third start) being first finisher?

[AndyC]

What are the odds on JD (third start) being first finisher?

From the qualifier it might depend on him getting focussed from the start? If he does based on his last phases it should be a certainty

[andy]

I think any of the brits have a chance of a high placing with a good clean run, but Scotia probably has the most potential speed-wise, we'll have to wait and see!

If not a brit then I'd love to thierry get gold in the mens!

[greywolf]

Womens: medals for the 3 heat winners
Mens: TG, Nordberg, Lundanes ... unless Hubmann was just jogging in the qualifiers, in which case Yury Tambasov is a good long-odds bet for bronze

[Scott]

I'm going to be optimistic and say gold for Marianne Andersen and Thierry. I also think Nordberg will pick up a medal of some colour. And if Scotia runs well I reckon he has a very good chance of getting on the podium

[Scott]

Weird figure-of-eight butterfly arrangement on the Women's course.

butterfly.jpg (119.92 KiB) Viewed 5567 times

[andy]

not sure I quite understand the figure of 8 thingy, oh well, I'll try and keep an eye on people going through

Both Helen and Pippa in the forest now

[andy]

Ok, Ptasekaite has been in that loop for ages now, perhaps it's infinite?

[AndyC]

I did a double take as well but I think of got it; you arrive at 8 then either turn right or left depending on your gaffle either therefore doing the two controls to the N or the two to the S then go to 11 return to 8 (now 12) and do the other two controls finishing at 11 (now 15) and away.....
Everyone therefore runs exactly the same legs in the same direction

[Scott]

Ptasekaite had major problems finding the first common control (#8), as have a lot of other people. It's a shame both loops of the butterfly are exactly the same size - it you are with someone at 8, there's a good chance you'll also be with them on the common leg 11-12.

The final loop after the spectator run-through looks pretty evil - straight up to the top of the hill and straight back down again.

[ba-ba]

http://www.internettv.ch/sport/ssf-live/ssf-livestream for those of you wanting free tv

[Becks]

Just saw this on attack point - Hubmann only lost out by 7 seconds...

http://emmaotomas.blogspot.com/2010/08/ ... lkval.html

Scroll down to the pictures to avoid having to read the German!

[Tatty]

You're a star again ba-ba. Many thanks.
Has JD started? He's not gone through the 0.1km radio control yet, after 13 minutes!!