Aebersold and Svensk Master a Brutal Long Distance as Czech Fans Roar Rauturier onto the Podium
World Cup Round 3 – Long, 6 August 2026
The long distance day of World Cup Round 3 delivered everything the home crowd could have hoped for – except the thunderstorms. Forecasters had warned of afternoon storms rolling over the terrain, but the skies held, leaving runners to battle only the heat, which climbed well past comfortable by the time the leading starters hit the forest. On a punishing course – 15.2 km with 735 m of climb for the men, 13 km and 595 m for the women – it was a day for patience, physical strength and cool heads.
And the crowds came. Spectator corridors and the arena were packed all afternoon, with the loudest cheers reserved for the runners in Czech colours.
Women: Aebersold untouchable, Rauturier delights the home fans
Simona Aebersold (Switzerland) produced a masterclass. The Swiss star led at the very first radio control and never surrendered the lead, winning in 1:36:38 ahead of Norway’s Marie Olaussen (+2:23).
The story of the day for the home crowd, though, was Tereza Rauturier. The Czech ran a beautifully controlled race, sitting in the top group throughout and holding off Norway’s Pia Young Vik to claim third, 4:21 behind the winner. The noise as she crossed the line into the arena said everything about what a home World Cup podium means.
She was far from alone. Lucie Dittrichova backed up the podium with a strong fifth place (+9:40), Denisa Kralova finished 11th and Marketa Mulickova 13th — four Czech women in the top thirteen on a day when the demanding course punished every hesitation. Lucie Semikova (17th) rounded out an excellent team performance.
Men: Svensk defies the heat
In the men’s race, Sweden’s Viktor Svensk was in a class of his own. Leading from the opening splits, he stretched his advantage through the middle section of the course and won in 1:35:19. Kasper Harlem Fosser (Norway) chased hard but had to settle for second at 1:47, with Fabian Aebersold (Switzerland) completing the podium a further eleven seconds back. Veteran Daniel Hubmann showed his enduring class in fifth.
The best Czech was Tomáš Křivda, who shared sixth place with Emil Svensk at 4:19 — an outstanding run that had the arena on its feet, and at times within striking distance of the podium fight. Jakub Chaloupsky continued the strong home showing in 11th, with Daniel Vandas 17th.
A course that took no prisoners
Course setters promised a true long distance test, and they delivered: route-choice legs, relentless climb and technically demanding sections that shuffled the order at nearly every radio point. Combined with the high temperatures, the attrition was real – several runners faded badly in the closing kilometres, and the finish chute saw more than a few athletes collapse into the shade the moment they crossed the line.
The threatened storms never arrived, but nobody in the arena was complaining. A dry, loud, sun-soaked day of world-class orienteering – and two Czech names, Rauturier and Krivda, written large on it.
