Biathlete Marlene Fichtner crowned a furious comeback in the IBU Cup. Sophia Schneider ensured a German double victory in the home game at Arber.
Fichtner started the pursuit in eighth place, 35.4 seconds behind the leaders. The 22-year-old shone with 20 hits at the shooting range and ultimately crowned her outstanding comeback with victory.
Schneider (+24.2 seconds/2 shooting errors) held on to her strong second place in the sprint and celebrated her second podium finish within 24 hours.
The Frenchwoman Amandine Mengin led her pursuer for a long time, but made her only two mistakes in the fourth shooting and came third, 53.8 seconds behind Fichtner.
Four tickets at the shooting range were the downfall of sprint winner Paula Botet from France on Sunday. The 25-year-old (+1:06.6 minutes) missed the podium in fourth place.
German biathlon team convinces collectively
Hanna Kebinger (+2:41.0/3 shooting errors) came tenth. Julia Kink (+2:47.5/4 shooting errors) rounded off the strong performance of the German biathletes in twelfth place. Melina Gaupp (+3:59.9/ 3 shooting errors) came 21st.
There was already reason to be happy for the German biathlon team in the IBU Cup on Saturday: Schneider had created an excellent starting position for her pursuers with her second place in the sprint. The 28-year-old also celebrated her best individual result, which she was able to repeat on Sunday.
Three German biathlon men in the top 10
In the morning, Danilo Riethmüller (6th), Roman Rees (7th) and Simon Kaiser (10th) had already made it into the top 10 in the men’s pursuit. The IBU Cup continues next Wednesday in Brzno-Osrblie, Slovakia. The Biathlon World Cup is also stopping off in Ruhpolding, Bavaria.