Number 4 - 17 July - WOC2012

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2middledistanceMiddle final: the biggesttechnical challengeAfter two qualification days in Bière-Ballens and St-George the full excitementof running for medals is on again.Today the WOC-athletes compete inthe middle distance final, fighting forgold and honor in the most technicaldiscipline. The courses are 6.5 kilometerslong (240 meters climbing)for the men and 5.5 kilometers (<strong>17</strong>0meters) for the women thus leading towinning times of about 35 minutes.This is a length where the athletescan push all the way into the finish– while they have to navigate as safeas possible in difficult terrain. Themiddle distance represents the mainchallenge of orienteering, namely ofnot crossing the edge of running toofast in order to still be able to readthe map carefully enough.As often in the past world championships,the middle distance final isheld in the technically most demandingterrain. Although the area north ofthe Col de la Givrine has never beenmapped before this year’s world championships,there are some things thatcan be told about the terrain of themiddle distance final. Like the middlequalification, the organizers describeit as a typical Jura terrain. One ofthe main characteristics is the stonyunderground with cliffs and rocks inmany places. There will be even someareas with dead wood on the groundwhich represents some extra obstaclesfor the runners. The relief featuresin the final will be vaguer thanWOC: that’s on today+ 12.00-16.00: middle distance final inSt-Cergue / Col de la Givrine+ Live Results of today’s final races:www.woc2012.ch+ 16.00: orienteering for beginners andvideos from today’s finals on the Place dela Navigation in Lausanne+ 19.30: performance by Association CapoeiraLausannein yesterday’s qualification with somerelatively flat parts which implies thatthe compass should be an importanthelp for the middle finalists.A specialty of today’s terrain comparedto the other forest competitionsin this championships are the meadowsand semi-open areas the runnerswill face in the final. Although therewill probably not be much running inthose areas this gives an additionalelement to the competition. Changesin speed could be crucial especiallywhen re-entering the forest. Eitherway this could be a tight middle distancefinal race with small gaps, solook forward to an exciting race dayon the Gol de la Givrine!jmLe plus grand défitechniqueLa course aux médailles est relancée aujourd’huiavec la finale de la moyennedistance, dans le terrain le plus techniquede ces championnats. Le terrainau nord du Col de la Givrine n’a jamaisété cartographié avant les WOC 2012 etn’est donc connu d’aucun athlète. Lesorganisateurs le décrivent comme unterrain typiquement jurassien, avec unsol très rocailleux, quelques zones recouvertesde bois vert et des clairières.Le relief moins détaillé exigera unebonne utilisation de la boussole. lb
3middledistance«I’ve never felt as relaxed»Thierry Gueorgiou on his way during yesterday’s middle distance qualification.The Frenchman won his heat easily.To win your heat with a leadof 53 seconds in the middledistance although you still arefighting with the consequencesof a serious injury: that isthe proof of real strength. Inthe qualification race yesterdayThierry Gueorgiou showedhis class despite the problemshe still has due to his stressfracture.He sustained the injury shortlybefore the European championshipsthis year and has beenstruggling since then. «Forthree days everything has beenfine», he told the journalists.«The injury disturbed me in thepreparation for the championships»,he said after his race.Only one month ago he couldhardly imagine starting at theWOC at all. «This is why I am sohappy right now», he said.He estimated that he is not inas good shape as are his mainopponents. «But the middledistance is my favorite distanceand I want to sell myselfas dearly as possible. Forme the middle is the easiestdiscipline because it is shortund you don’t need very highspeed like in sprint or thatmuch endurance like in longdistance races.»Asked how many percent ofhis potential he currentlyis able to perform he didn’twant to estimate. «That is simplyimpossible.»However, he says that he hasnever felt relaxed like duringthese world championships,«because I didn’t expectto start. But of course, now Iwant to do my best and win».The reigning middle distancechampion also made a statementconcerning a possibleparticipation in the relay comingSaturday. «We will decidethat after the middle distancefinal. If the injury stays like itis at the moment I will run therelay.»lanPlus relaxéque jamaisLe Français Thierry Gueorgiou,champion du mondeen titre sur la moyenne distance,était probablementl’un des athlètes les plusheureux d’être au départ àSt-George. Blessé juste avantles Championnats d’Europe,une participation aux <strong>WOC2012</strong> aurait été encore inimaginableil y a un mois : unesituation qui le rend plusrelaxé que jamais. Sa participationau relais, où il avaitremporté l’or l’année passée,sera décidée aujourd’hui. lbWOC-CompassWorld classGueorgiouI can imagine how ThierryGueorgiou feels. I hadstress fractures severaltimes and had to participatein competitions withlittle preparation. Yet,Thierry Gueorgiou is an extremelyexperienced athletewith extraordinary technicalskills. And these skillsdon’t get lost although youhave to pause like he hadto do. The physical abilitiescan be quite well maintainedduring such periodswith comprehensive alternativetraining, and accordingto his statements ThierryGueorgiou did that. Personally,I think that the lossof physical competitivenessis often overestimated– provided the alternativetraining is done properly.However, there is also amental aspect that has to betaken into consideration inthis context. A period withoutcompetition or trainingoften causes a lack of assuranceand self-confidence.In my opinion this is thebiggest problem because inorienteering self-confidenceis one of the most decisivefactors involved.Great athletes like Thierryonly need a short trainingperiod in order to regainthis good competitionfeeling. Other runners needmore time. That’s what distinguishesa first-classorienteer from the average.Marie-Luce Romanens was the firstSwiss female orienteer to win theWOC short distance. For Daily OMagazine she daily comments oncurrent events at the WOC 2012.
Page 1: Tuesday 17 July 2012DAILY OMAGAZINE
Page 5 and 6: 5Middle Distance Qualification - Re
Page 7 and 8: 7Middle distance qualification:out
Page 9 and 10: 9Running around: a successful tacti
Page 11 and 12: 11Re-dynamisez vos t-shirts!Au stan
Page 13 and 14: 13Tip of the daySara Norrgrann, Fin
Page 15 and 16: 15First timers from across the ocea

Number 4 - 17 July - WOC2012

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