Matthias Kyburz won the men's sprint European orienteering title on home soil ©Getty Images

Switzerland's Matthias Kyburz and Sweden's Tove Alexandersson claimed the men's and women's sprint titles at the European Orienteering Championships in Neuchatel in Switzerland after three rounds of knockout racing.

In the men's race, Kyburz won the gold in 6min 30sec despite finishing third and second in his quarter-final and semi-final heats.

His teammate, Joey Hadorn, was just a second behind and had to settle for silver after winning his respective heats - including a semi-final featuring Kyburz.

Kasper Harlem Fosser of Norway was three seconds adrift for the bronze medal, pipping Riccardo Rancan by a second - denying an all-Swiss podium.

In fifth was Vojtech Kral of the Czech Republic, while Audun Heimdal of Norway was a distant sixth in the final.

Tove Alexandersson won the women's European sprint title ©Getty Images
Tove Alexandersson won the women's European sprint title ©Getty Images

Alexandersson was a clear winner in the women's final, finishing eight seconds ahead of her nearest challenger in 6:49.

Switzerland's Simona Aebersold, who came through the heats with the Swedish athlete, claimed the silver medal, while Norway's Andrine Benjaminsen was another 10 seconds behind, finishing third.

Russia's Natalia Gemperle was 17 seconds away from Benjaminsen, finishing fourth ahead of Sweden's Vilma Von Krusenstierna.

Tereza Janosikova of the Czech Republic finished sixth in the final.