Photo: Peter Hodkinson in evening sunshine, World Ranking Sprint, Akershus Fortress, Oslo. From Lillomarka OL Facebook.
The Norwegian and Swiss Test Races for European Championships selection are this weekend, with several British runners taking advantage of quality races. This item will be updated as they happen.
Matt Speake is the planner of the Oslo Sprint for his club Lillomarka OL.
The Swedish test races are next weekend "in spring-warmed Skåne". There's a sprint on the Friday, then long and middle on Saturday and Sunday. The terrain is not as hilly as in Switzerland where the European Championships are..
Norway
Saturday - Middle. Sunday - Long. Tuesday - Sprint.
Sprint Race Photos on the Lillomarka Facebook Page.
Sprint Results and World Ranking Event Points
Switzerland
Friday 6th the Swiss were sprinting in the hillside town of Novaggio. As usual in the morning, then a rerun of the same courses, after time for analysis, in the late afternoon. Middle and long races were on Saturday and Sunday.
Sprint Men Results (incl Chris Smithard) (GBR) )
Sprint Women Results (incl Tove Alexandersson (SWE) and Natalia Gemperle (RUS) )
World Ranking (WRE) Points for Sprint
Sprint GPS Women (3.1km, 130m climb.)
Sprint GPS Men (3.6km, 160m climb.)
As usual with buildings close together the GPS is not always so good, but it gives a good idea of the sort of terrain.
In the "rerun", Matthias Kyburz who was second in the morning, took a minute and a half off his time.
World Ranking (WRE) Points for Middle
Middle GPS Men (4.7km 310m)
Middle GPS Women (3.6km 225m)
Long GPS Women (9.3km 400m)
Long GPS Men (13.3km 700m)