There are severe damage attacks on the spruce forest that will have serious consequences for the Östuna stage, east of Knivsta and intended as day 3 of this year's edition of the orientation party. When the corona pandemic forced a move one year in time, the landowner could no longer wait.

Large parts of the opposing stage, with a great long distance for the elite, will be thinned out hard or cold. In principle, all veteran participants and young people had been completely devastated. It was just like the situation.

- It's a little sad. Many hours have been spent. But it would not have been a fun experience to drive here next year, to run on a cold day in the glowing sun in the middle of summer, says Mats Troeng, one of three pioneers who are now forced to give up a total of 214 checks and a nice forest.

- I want to offer a good experience and then it is a better solution to move.

Lucky for the unlucky was that they had a planned training map much closer to central Uppsala. It now takes over the stage, new paths must be laid, new controls are highlighted.

- It is a bit of a mess, there is a certain amount of fun in it, but it is clear that it will be a lot of hours, says Troeng.

Acting CEO Jens Lindqvist tries to see the positive in the situation, with a more unified and easily accessible O-Ring, but also notes that this means new costs and sacrifices.

- This stage had become a pattern breaker, with a different terrain, slightly higher altitudes and mixed forests, a different orientation experience compared to inside the city. A map costs about SEK 400,000 to complete and we cannot use it. We may try to get that money back somewhere else.  

- The paving, the planning of the new arena, all the infrastructure, it has to be made new and for one stage there are many hours that must be spent in the fall, says Lindqvist to SVT Sport.

CLIP: O-ring hard hit in coronation times

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