WOC Relay - who's going to win?

[Scott]

The Relay teams are now online. Some interesting selections - Norway have left out Nordberg, and Switzerland have left out Hubmann.

I reckon this might finally be France's year in the men, and the Norwegian women to defend their title, although the Danish women could do very well. Our men are in with a very good chance of a podium, if not better

Selected teams:

Men
1 - Switzerland (Lauenstein, Mueller, Merz)
2 - Russia (Khramov, Tsvetkov, Novikov)
3 - Finland (Lakanen, Ikonen, Haldin)
9 - Great Britain (Gristwood, Duncan, Fraser)
22 - France (Adamski, Gonon, Gueorgiou)
23 - Norway (Kaas, Weltzien, Lundanes)
24 - Czech Republic (Dlabaja, Prochazka, Smola)
30 - Sweden (Wingstedt, Öberg, Andersson)

Women
51 - Norway (Egseth, Hausken, Andersen)
52 - Sweden (Billstam, Claesson, Jansson)
53 - Finland (Fincke, Rantanen, Kauppi)
54 - Switzerland (Cejka, Koenig-Salmi, Niggli)
55 - Czech Republic (Klechova, Jurenikova, D. Brozkova)
58 - France (Vercellotti, Chataing, Dodin)
61 - Great Britain (Bridle, Rollins, Archer)
76 - Denmark (Bobach, Alm, Søes)

[edited for changed Swedish and Norwegian women's teams]

[Tatty]

Claesson is running for Sweden( not Gustafsson) which gives them a very strong team.

[Adrian]

Women: Finland. Men: Norway.

http://reentrant.wordpress.com/2010/08/ ... -distance/

[Scott]

Claesson is running for Sweden( not Gustafsson) which gives them a very strong team.

Yes, Swedish women are now:
52 - Sweden (Billstam, Claesson, Jansson)

Presumably an injury substitution.

Also a change in running order for the Norwegian women:
51 - Norway (Egseth, Hausken, Andersen)

[buzz]

Any free TV coverage today?

[EricH]

http://www.internettv.ch/sport/ssf-live

[Spookster]

http://www.internettv.ch/sport/ssf-live

Thanks. Just in time to see Helen finish. And Grace.

[Becks]

For those watching official TV, apparently Swiss TV has actual GPS with a real map.

Go USA! These guys, especially Sam Saeger, have had an amazing week!

[DIDSCO]

A lot of the girls were already 20-30secs behind after the first 600m straight running before the start kite, you can't afford to lose contact at that stage. Hungary were impressive all the way through the first stage.

[Becks]

Go Ali C and JOK! With Russia at the intermediate. Fantastic!

[Spookster]

Go Ali C and JOK! With Russia at the intermediate. Fantastic!

Looks like Sarah is about to catch them though...

[Spookster]

Sweden has 2.5 min lead at first intermediate control on third leg. A clean run should mean Gold, but there's a big pack chasing the Silver and Bronze.

Sarah back in 9th, but a 3.5 min gap ahead, so probably 8th is out of reach.

[Becks]

The official TV is pretty poor today for me, cutting out a ton. But their commentary with Swiss visuals is a good combination!

Yup, looks like we'll sit just inside the top ten. Going to be a great fight for silver/bronze though!

[Becks]

Jansson has missed number 9! They're now much closer.

[Spookster]

Oooh, mistake by Jansson, and that brings Kauppi and Andersen almost up to her. And Niggli can't be far behind...