09:10
Penalty loop for France
Things are going badly for Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet. The three reloading cartridges are not enough for the Frenchwoman either. It sets a penalty loop. France falls back to 11th place. After one spare, Austria’s Lisa Theresa Hauser is 13th.
09:09
3. Shoot
Fire at prone! Vanessa Hinz and her companions work spotlessly. Also with Mona Brorsson and Dorothea Wierer all discs fall. Shortly thereafter, Kristina Reztsova is also shooting strong and keeping her ROC team in business. The Belarusian Dzinara Alimbekava does the same.
09:07
to the situation
On the course, it is important for the athletes to find their pace and not to overdo it. However, the trio at the top stays together. At the back, on the other hand, you have to apply a little more pressure. The top squadrons want to be at the front.
09:05
Zdouc collapsed
After her strong shooting result, Dunja Zdouc collapsed completely on the final lap, losing three quarters of a second. Austria slips to 15th place. And the Swiss have problems. Lena Häcki is supposed to be running now, but she gets off her skis and looks hectic. Something doesn’t seem right there.
09:03
1st change
Then Vanessa Voigt did it, handed over to Vanessa Hinz while in the lead. Sweden and Italy are very close. There is a small gap behind it. Bulgaria, France and Norway follow twelve seconds behind. The ROC season follows a little later.
09:01
Voigt strong on the way
Vanessa Voigt is also running strong. The German starter has courageously taken the lead and is now doing everything to give her successor a good starting position.
08:59
A reloader
Among the favored squadrons there is at most the need for an extra cartridge – for example with the French Anaïs Bescond. Irene Cadurisch has to reload again, which is why Switzerland cannot get away from the bottom of the rankings.
08:58
2. Shoot
Then the starting runners go into the standing position. And there are a few more errors. Vanessa Voigt, Dunja Zdouc and the Norwegian Karolina Knotten work perfectly. Despite one spare each, Linn Persson and Lisa Vitozzi are the first to go back on track.
08:56
On the route
On the track, the strong runners are now trying to pick up the pace. Meanwhile, the Swede Linn Persson leads.
08:54
reloader
Lisa Vitozzi has to reload. And the ROC athlete is also struggling. Irina Kazakevich then also regulates that with an extra cartridge. Irene Cadurisch has to add twice, which means that Switzerland initially takes over the Red Lantern.
08:52
1. Shoot
Then the ski hunters meet at the shooting range for the first time. The prone position is about accuracy. In good conditions, many women shoot flawlessly. Susann Dunklee for the USA is the first to get back on track, followed by Dunja Zdouc. The distances are very small. Even Vanessa Voigt is not naked.
08:49
First timing
At the first split, Lisa Vitozzi leads the field. Now the Swede is also far ahead with Linn Persson.
08:48
Little is happening yet
France and Italy are in front of the field. The pace is still manageable. Therefore, all 20 runners stay close together and will therefore come to the first shooting as a whole.
08:45
begin
The 20 start runners rush off from three starting corridors in what is once again a sensitive cold. At least at 5 p.m. local time the sun was still shining from the blue sky.
08:41
favourites
Other squadrons are preferred. Always on the podium at this winter’s World Cups, France still have three Olympic bronze medalists from 2018 with them in Anaïs Bescond, Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet and Justine Braisaz. Sweden is also one of the winners of this season and is also relying on the experience of medal winners from 2018. Linn Persson, Mona Brorsson and Hanna Öberg won silver then and are now supported by the super-nimble Elvira Öberg. Then we have the Norwegians with the outstanding Marte Olsbu Røiseland picking up medals in every competition at those games – including three golds. With Tiril Eckhoff and Ida Lien, there are two more reigning relay world champions. Also this winter, the women skiers of the Russian Olympic Committee have almost always been among the front runners when it comes to team action. And then let’s not forget about the Belarusian champions.
08:36
The squadron of Switzerland
The Confederates are also among the outsiders. Irene Cadurisch is the starting runner and is handed over to Lena Häcki, the 33rd best-placed Swiss in the overall World Cup. This is followed by Selina Gasparin and Amy Baserga.
08:29
Austria’s foursome
Dunja Zdouc, Lisa Theresa Hauser, Anna Juppe and Katharina Innerhofer will be competing for Austria. Of course, this season isn’t balanced at all. The only top biathlete is Hauser, who already led the overall World Cup this winter. The other three athletes are outside the top 75 in the season standings. There are no realistic chances of winning a medal.
08:20
German quartet
There are no surprises in the cast of the German season – only maybe that Vanessa Vogt opens. She is followed by Vanessa Hinz, Franziska Preuss and, as the final runner, individual Olympic champion Denise Herrmann. These four – and that is already certain – have also qualified for the final mass start on Saturday. A medal is definitely possible today and certainly the goal.
08:10
daily task
A total of 20 nations want to face the challenge. On the one hand, this consists in the fact that individual athletes decide on the weal and woe of an entire team and thus their teammates with their performance. The pressure then has an effect on the last runner and especially on the very last shooting. Just like what happened to Philipp Nawrath on Tuesday. In addition, the matter is simply explained. Each athlete has to complete six kilometers, divided into three laps. In between are prone and standing shooting. After the obligatory five shots, there are – unlike in individual competitions – three options for reloading individually. If there are still discs, there will be penalty loops.
08:01
Good morning!
Welcome to another Olympic medal decision in biathlon! After the men yesterday, it’s the women’s turn today with their relay. It is about 4 x 6 kilometers. The competition is scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m. CET.