11,3 km with 530m of climb in a physical and technical very demanding terrain was waiting for us in yesterdays 4^th stage.  I started carefully, because the first controls downhill with all the small marches looked quite difficult to me. I had a very good first part of the race until I made a small mistake on control number 13 (a strange situation there, a lot of runners missed) and a very big one to control nr 20. I was tired there already and did not keep the height out from number 19 and so I lost 5 minutes in the half open marches below the control. Stupid!

I tried to forget this mistake and to push hard in the final part, which was very demanding physically. In the finish I was a little surprised to be in the lead but obviously also other runners in Men’s elite class had some problems on the course.

This afternoon a middle distance will take place in the same area with the same finish, so I am expecting again a very challenging course.

The map with my course.

Results and splits as usual can be found on the organizers home page: http://www.tyrol2010.com

In preparation for WOC in August I am currently taking part in the “Tyrol 6 Days”, a multiday competition in my home region Tyrol.
Perfect organization, good maps, challenging courses and wonderful weather so far during the first 3 stages.
The start was very good for me. After a 3^rd place in a funny and challenging sprint prologue with a labyrinth part and a 2^nd place on first stage I won Stage number 2 with just 3 seconds.

Last weekend I traveled to Subiaco near Rome for a competition I had selected as one of the most important in the first part of the season: national middle distance championships. Even if preparation during winter and spring was not the best I felt to be ready for the challenge. Model event on Friday was good. Nothing unexpected. Fast forest and quite easy orienteering. In the qualifier on Saturday I tried to make a good start and to run at full speed for some controls in the beginning in order to test the routines for Sunday. I had a clear race and won my heat. Therefore I could start last in the final on Sunday.