Preuss is eighth – Herrmann in 13th place
In 40:18.0 minutes and with four penalties, the French relegated the two Norwegians Tiril Eckhoff (+15.3 seconds/4 penalties) and Marte Olsbu Röiseland (+34.9 seconds/4 penalties) to the places. Franziska Preuss also finished eighth with four penalties and already 1:26.4 minutes behind the winner. Individual Olympic champion Denise Herrmann was 13th (+2:09.1). She had to run five penalty loops.
This left the German women with two medals in China: gold for Herrmann in the individual and bronze in the relay. The outstanding biathlete at the Winter Games was Röiseland with three Olympic victories, one silver and one bronze.
Mass start race brought forward due to cold and wind
The women’s mass start race was originally scheduled for Saturday. Because of the expected cold, combined with an icy wind, the race organizers decided to bring the competition forward by one day.