Discussion: JWOC Long

What beautiful courses!

Yes, it looks delightful (good morning from Seattle).

Eep, Mike - we're back on the East Coast and still not used to the time change. Dedication!

Go Juniors!

Isabel is doing well at the second radio

Go Izzy!

Aidan Smith about to catch Granqvist at #14
... he should read AP, then he wouldn't have been so slow punching at the crossing.

I wonder to what extent Smith's miss near the end was caused by hearing the announcer say how close he was to the leader - and then pushing too hard?

I think he'd pushed hard to get clear past Granqvist over the paddock. After the mistake he ditzed before heading off on the preferred route choice.

Way to go Izzy!

Congrats to Izzy! (Currently #41/109.) In 1999 Samantha had 8th in the Classic; Isabel has done about as well today in the Long/Classic as the next best US results: Suzanne Armstrong in 2002 and Samantha in 2001 and Erin Olafsen in 2000. Isabel has shown really nice improvement over the last two years in this format.

Yeah Izzy

Congrats Izzy! Looks like a top 50 is possible

Why isn't Tim Robertson's result shown?

I can see him as 5th at 9.3km but my stupid computer refuses to load the end results.

The next finisher (Cederberg) hasn't come up either so I'm guessing some problem with the finish/downloads.

Looks like the radio control updates are not working.

49th for Izzy

Great job Michael S. 81st !

All is now revealed. Some exciting racing. The womens top 10 is dominated by the usual suspects, but the mens top 10 was more open - only 3 countries with more than one. Could be a fun relay:-))

Mens relay will have the top 3 places filled by the Scandinavian teams based on performances so far. Sweden, Norway, Finland in that order. Only major errors will shift that. But fourth looks very, very open between NZ, Austria, Swiss and Russia. Might be a good nights TV.

Of those countries fighting for 4th, the Swiss guys seem clearly the best across the top 3 if all goes well, but they've also struck me as a bit - how to put it - technically fragile. So if they can't get through 3 legs without at least one of them falling off the map, then I see that opening the door for the not as strong but more consistent likes of NZ, Austria, maybe Britain or Lithuania? Don't know if the Russians have impressed me much beyond their top guy. Women I think is between Finland and the Swiss, maybe the Swedes could get up and spoil that party though. I'll be interested to see how the German women do, their top 3 have been quietly achieving enough to imagine they might get up amongst the more usual suspects.

I added the times of the top three runners for both the long and middle, adjusted for length of the two events and Russia was clearly in the mix for fourth. Its not always how impressive the best runner or two is, but how far behind the third will be. Anyway, I will be barracking for those wearing black, even though they are from the other side of the ditch.

Finland has Topi, Aleksi, and Olli. Topi was leading long final for first first 30 minutes despite being early starter, so he should be capable of keeping up. Second leg runner Aleksi - silver medalist in sprint - twisted his ankle in middle final and may not have shown yet what he can do in forest. Olli may be the weak link, he may not be as strong in sprint finish as some of the older boys.

I've been really impressed with the Finnish team as a whole this year, seems a massive turnaround from a few years of being mostly off the pace at this level.

Jagge you haven't said anything about the stacked form-lines :-)

They're stacked in the Finn's favour at the moment.

I'm going to make my fortune hiring myself out to countries to name their rivals as favourites in international relays....