Route to EYOC 2026 🇸🇮: The Karst Test of Lokve

EYOC 2026 will bring Europe’s best young orienteers to Nova Gorica, Slovenia, for a championship where the forest races promise to be much more than a simple physical challenge. Among them, the long distance in Lokve clearly stands out as the highlight.

This is the kind of terrain where a good result will not come only from running fast. Lokve is hilly, demanding and technically rich, with significant climb, karst formations, stony areas, steep slopes and deep depressions. The forest may allow high speed in many sections, but that is exactly what makes the challenge so interesting: athletes will need to run offensively while keeping full control of the map, the compass and the terrain.

The key to this long distance will be simplification. Karst terrain often offers too much information: depressions, small hills, broken contour shapes and similar features repeated across the forest. Trying to read everything is impossible at race speed. The best athletes will first understand the big picture: slope direction, main depressions, ridges, runnable areas and safe attackpoints. Only then will they use the smaller details where precision is required. Route choice will be central. In this terrain, the shortest line will not always be the fastest one. Every leg must be judged through a combination of distance, climb, runnability, technical risk and quality of execution. A longer route with better flow and a safer control approach can easily beat a direct line through heavy climb, stones and complex depressions.

The biggest danger will probably come from overconfidence. Good visibility and runnable forest can tempt athletes to increase speed too early. But in karst terrain, small compass errors or small misunderstandings of the contours can quickly lead to parallel mistakes. The right principle is simple: push hard when the picture is clear, slow down when the terrain demands precision. Control approaches will be decisive. Many mistakes in this type of terrain happen not because the route choice was wrong, but because the final part of the leg was not planned well enough. Before attacking the control, the athlete needs a clear attackpoint, a precise direction, an expected terrain picture and a way to stop if something does not fit.

The long distance in Lokve will reward complete orienteers: athletes who can manage climb, stay calm under pressure, simplify complex terrain and make good decisions while tired. It will not be a race for blind push, but neither for passive running. The best performances will come from controlled offensiveness: brave route choices, clean execution and full focus in the decisive moments.

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🧠 Simulated Leg for the Long Distance

As part of the preparation for EYOC 2026, I have created a simulated long-distance leg inspired by the type of challenge athletes may face in Lokve. This terrain will demand much more than running speed. Significant climb, karst shapes, stony ground, steep slopes and deep depressions will force athletes to make smart route choices and execute them with full control.

The key question is not only which route is shortest. It is which route gives the best balance between speed, climb, safety and execution. A direct line may look attractive, but it can quickly become risky if the terrain is complex or the control approach is unclear. Tip!! At EYOC level, the best decision is often the one you can understand, trust and execute under pressure.

➡️ Your task:
Take a close look at the map below. Draw your route and imagine seeing this leg during the EYOC long distance, with tired legs and limited time to decide. Where can you run fast? Where do you need precision? And how will you attack the control without losing map contact?

The analysis will be posted below on Thursday morning!!!