ÖTILLÖ World Series Gothenburg
Fast Times Among the Islands at Gothenburg
Press Release / 08.08.2021
What speed!
Today, the Southern Archipelago outside the city of Gothenburg was the arena for the Swimrun World Series. Three weeks ago it was the Swiss mountains of the Engadin Valley. What unites these two opposites is the incredible speed the top teams hold along the course. At the end Oscar Olsson (SWE) & Adriel Young (AUS) pulled the longest straw and won the Men's race. In the Mixed category Ulrika Eriksson (SWE) & Peter Oom (SWE) won a fierce chase to the end and in the Women's Category the same scenario played ou,t but now with Anna Hellström & Johanna Paulsson (SWE) as the final winners.
As this race is four (4) weeks before the World Championship it was the last chance for some teams to qualify and a chance for other teams to sharpen their game.
The World Series race was a total of 37,5 km between the islands of Styrsö, Köpstadsö, Brännö, Asperö, Känsö och Vrångö to mention some of the islands. In total there were 19 run sections and 18 swim sections between the islands.
In the Men's category some of the best teams in the world were on the start line and they set the tone right away. From the start gun three teams pushed hard to try to make a break. In the Mixed and Women's category the scenario was similar with several teams pushing hard all the way to the finish. The speed on land, in some very technical terrain at times, is mind-boggling and the in the water all the top racers swim like torpedoes. For some of the holiday makers in the archipelago it must have been spectacular to see.
In the end only minutes separated the top teams. Oscar Olsson & Adriel Young, living in Gothenburg, and who have won several times before, managed to pull out all stops and to win ahead of the chasing French team. Oscar and Adriel showed the competition that they will be a force to reckon with at the World Championship on September 6th. Their winning time was 3:39:36. They finished six minutes ahead of the young french duo Matthieu Poullain & Hugo Tormento (FRA) - Team ARK Swimrun France - who continue to show that they are among the absolute best. In third place Max Andersson & Fredrik Axegård (SWE) - ARK Swimrun Oldie & Young gun - finished with a total time of 3:46:19.
In the Mixed category another local team won. Ulrika Eriksson & Peter Oom - Team Stena Recycling, also from Gothenburg and now winners of two out of three World Series races this year, are looking like favourites at the coming World Championship. Their winning time was 3:57:36. Ulrika & Peter held a very constant, high pace throughout the whole race course managing to win ahead of Kristin Larsson & Daniel Hansson (SWE) - Team ARK Swimrun. In third place Marika Wagner & Alexander Koller - ARK Swimrun - finished with a total time of 4:09:18.
The Women;s race was a hornets' nest for second and third. Winners Anna Hellström & Johanna Paulsson (SWE) - Team Envol/ Primal coaching - pulled away from the chasing teams from the beginning. Their winning time was 4:22:16. They won 7 minutes ahead of Johanna Edman (SWE) & Eugenie Plane (FRA)- who were not more than a minute ahead of Helen Wikmar & Emma Wanberg (SWE). The racing up front must be incredibly stressful where there is no time or place to let off the gas anywhere on the course.
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