PRESS RELEASE: The long-distance orienteering competitions in Kuopio’s Neulaniemi offered excitement until the end
The long-distance orienteering competitions in Kuopio’s Neulaniemi offered excitement until the end in both the women’s and men’s races.
The women’s competition was a battle between Sweden’s Tove Alexandersson and the reigning world champion Simona Abersold. The lead changed several times, and for a long time, it seemed that Alexandersson would take her second world championship of the event. However, towards the end of the course, she made a big mistake at control 19 and then immediately made another error at the next control. The lead changed, and Abersold celebrated her world championship at the finish with a nine-second margin. Norway’s Andrine Benjaminsen finished third.
In the men’s race, it seemed halfway through that it would be a repeat of the middle-distance race, with Norway’s Eirik Langedal Breivik leading clearly and his compatriot Kasper Harlem Fosser in second place. However, Breivik withdrew from the race after a poorly run long leg.
The long route choices and the demanding course took their toll, and in the end, Fosser was the clear winner. Sweden’s Martin Regborn, who improved towards the end, finished second, and Switzerland’s Matthias Kyburz was third.
Course setter Jarmo Puttonen succeeded in creating challenging courses for both races. The women’s 13.3-kilometer and men’s 16-kilometer courses offered demanding legs from start to finish. The course guided the orienteers to work independently, and the large packs typical of long-distance races were avoided.
Finland’s Venla Harju finished sixth in the women’s race, and Ida Haapala was eighth. The best Finnish man was Miika Kirmula, who finished sixth, and Akseli Ruohola was ninth.
Women 13,3 km
- Simona Aebersold, Switzerland1:34:51
- Tove Alexandersson, Sverige 1:35:00
- Andrine Benjaminsen, Norway 1:37:16
Miehet 16 km
- Kasper Harlem Fosser, Norway 1:37:50
- Martin Regborn, Sweden 1:40:47
- Matthias Kyburz, Switzerland 1:41:30
All results: Online-results | World Orienteering Championships 2025 Kuopio Finland – Long Distance 10.7.2025
Photo: Markku Leinonen (The winners of the long distance race)
