The two days dedicated to the Knock-Out Sprint simulations delivered thrilling racing and provided athletes with a valuable opportunity to experience the unique format of the World Orienteering Championships.

The programme began with the qualification race at in Quarto dei Mille, on a fast and technical course overlooking the Ligurian Sea. The top 12 athletes from each heat secured their places in the knockout rounds.

The competition then moved to Masone, where the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals were contested in the exciting head-to-head format. The quarter-finals featured butterfly-loop forking, creating different route choices while ensuring competitive racing. Throughout the day, athletes produced spectacular battles, tactical duels and dramatic finishes, offering a realistic preview of what can be expected at the WOC.

The courses, designed by Alessio Tenani and Marcello Lambertini, presented technically demanding challenges that closely reflected the standard and complexity of the upcoming World Championships.

After an exciting succession of elimination races, Hedvig Valbjørn Gydesen claimed victory in the women's competition ahead of Ida Haapala and Cécile Calandry, while Fabian Aebersold won the men's event, finishing ahead of Tuomas Heikkilä and Joey Hadorn. The two days of Knock-Out Sprint simulations successfully concluded another key chapter of the WOC Simulation Week, giving athletes a realistic and high-quality rehearsal ahead of the World Orienteering Championships.