Discussion: WOC Relay

Who's running for Team USA?

Canada is:

Men’s Relay:
Robbie Anderson, Will Critchley, Damian Konotopetz

Women’s Relay:
Emily Kemp, Louise Oram, Tori Owen

Samantha Saeger
Alison Campbell
Alison Crocker

Greg Ahlswede
Giacomo Barbone
Eric Bone

(I think.)

This confirms Sandy's post.

The running order for Canadian men is Damian, Will, Robbie. For the women, it is Louise, Tori, and Emily. (in case anyone doesn't want to bother to click on the link.)

Hmm, some interesting choices for Canada. Let's see how D-Man handles the pressure, he can run with big boys, but needs to keep his head together. The other two guys have more experience running big Euro relays, but D-Man would be the pick to hang with a fast train. If he has a great run, watch out for him in the future to build on this in other relays.

Surprised a bit by Emily running third. But regardless, great potential for Canada on that team!

Where would you have put Emily, Nev? (and why?)

It'll be fun watch in the morning!

Torn between first or second. I think AZ wants a chance to take a picture of Canada leading a relay pack, so go first leg and go for the glory.

But if Louise has the wheels to hang onto a pack, second probably make the most tactical sense.
For the US I'd obviously run SS-AC-AC. ;)

Sadly am fighting a respiratory infection, so I am skipping today's events (S6D and relay). I have just purchased a GPS ticket, the code has arrived and been tested, found the BBC channel, set up my pillows and blankets on the couch, so I am ready to go.

And the women are off!
IOF just showed a picture of the commentary table, looks smaller than 2012 NAOC.

I must say, the terrain looks terrific.

Wow, Maja is crushing it!

Mironova disappeared?

Do the runners have all the control options shown on the live tracking, or do they have a linear course?

Linear course; they won't have the other leg locations on their map.

Mironova just punched; still in 2nd, and doing well.

Appears Taylor is having a great run for GB.

Miranova isn't showing as having gone through the second TV, but they showed her on the video. Some technical problem.

"technical problem" I sure hope so, hopefully not a mis punch.

Looks like Miranova did not mispunch, I wonder what happened with the equipment.

Shaping up for a good battle for silver and bronze.

Yes, interesting. I thought Russia was clear of that group at the 2nd exchange but they've reeled her back in. Quite a sizable group in the hunt for 2nd/3rd now.

Ahh, looked like she lost a little time at BC

5 runners within 8 secs at split 2

Could be a great sprint finish for silver/bronze...

exciting.

They won't fit 2 across through that gate at the bottom of the hill!

Elbows up!

Also, Kemp versus Crocker is ongoing.

And big win for the Danes!

17-18 route choice disagreement in the bunch

USA (Ali Crocker), Canada (Emily Kemp) and Ireland (Ciara Largey) together now, halfway into the 3rd leg! Exciting, even for us outsiders! :)

AliC and Kempster running together at TV3, ~14 minutes from the finish!

Yes, and they've gained a bit on Australia too.

Kemp 30 seconds ahead of Ali now, but they still have about 10 minutes to go. Ireland is over a minute behind now. Australia less than 4 minutes ahead!

Go Ali!. Go Emily! Go Ali! Go Emily! (As a Canadian living in the US, I'm rather torn...)

Coming down to the run in.

Sprint to the end for Emily and Ali...let's go ladies!!!

2 seconds!!

2 seconds!

2 seconds!! Insane.

Something bad happening to Damian?

There he is

He's still a high-risk, high-reward runner. But was Canada's best choice to lead-off.

I think this will be a fascinating US-Canada battle on the men's side, as always.

For the men, lots of "new" countries still in the top group...very cool.

Is the GPS tracking working well for anyone?

FIN 13, NOR 15, SWE 21... now this is interesting. "New" countries will have to show some depth to stay up front though

Fabian is crushing it per usual.

I'm still looking at the Women's results. Happy to see Canada and USA together at the end. Great runs by both Ali and Emily. Looking further at Emily's comeback, using the available data from TV1 to the Finish, she gained about 8 minutes on a 32:45 minute course, and took an elapsed time of 33.57. Emma Klingenberg was 32:45. That is amazing. Somebody check my math and use her total elapsed time, if you have the data, but suffice to say, that was a World Class Podium Run.

Wow, can you imagine being Belarus' 2nd runner right now? ohmygodohmygodoymygod

Starting out with Daniel Hubmann, no big deal.

Have given up on the GPS. Watching BBC and the live feed and the live results.

I've got Giacomo on GPS now!

Just gave the gps tracker one more chance...then turned it off.

argh...need gps....

Giacomo has caught and passed South Africa!

Gristwood!

Kyburz two minutes ahead of Trachand and Street at TV1 on the third leg!

Come on GB!

So exciting. Go GBR!!

Let's go GB (Giacomo Barbone!)

Will Critchley has closed the gap to Giacomo to under 5 minutes! Exciting finish for wily veteran ebone racing Randerson?

Brother Will making up a little time on Young Giac...

Kyburz is gone, but Daehli has almost made contact with Tranchand/Street!

Any photos of the Ali/Emily finish??

I'm impressed how well France is doing without Thierry on the team.

Canada erased a 3:39 deficit on Leg 3 in the women's race. They are 4:35 back in the men's!

This is shaping up to be a fantastic finish!

Oooo, another exciting battle for silver and bronze!

Impressive run from Emily.

As for France... ever since I recognized the talent in the Coupat family back in 1996, I knew France was going to be a powerhouse! ;)

Robbie already made up 32 seconds on Eric!

Yow, now it's raining, and we've already seen one person slide out on that left turn right before the finish. This could be a very interesting finish sprint if they come in together.

Oh nos! What happened to GBR?

USA passed Japan!

Robbie still gaining ground. Only 3:20 back of Eric. (He's already made up 1:15)

And Robbie is still eating into Eric's lead. Could we see a repeat of the USA/CAN sprint?

So it goes...

Robbie with some trouble?

Eric gave it back to Japan! He lost maybe 3 minutes in there.

Whoa, there's Robbie! Just 1:14 behind Eric now.

gap down to 1:21 btwn US and Can

maybe a 3-way sprint? If Robbie doesn't just blow right on by that is...

oops 1:21 to Japan

Go Eric Go!

so close!

yeah! eric got him (Japan)!

Nice job by Eric to outsprint Japan. Robbie with a great last leg to narrow the gap

not the first time in recent years we've seen a North American finish sprint battle - when are the US and Canada teams going to realise they can sit out the whole relay and just send their designated 3rd leg runners out to race from the last control to the finish? ;-)