Franziska Preuß took another podium finish at the end of the Biathlon Home World Cup in Ruhpolding.
The 30-year-old came second in the mass start over 12.5 kilometers with one penalty, and with a furious final lap she ran from fourth place to her eighth podium of the season.
This meant she extended her lead in the overall World Cup to 142 points after twelve of 21 races over France’s Lou Jeanmonnot, who was ninth on Sunday, and she also defended the red jersey in the mass start.
Preuß, who had already placed second in the individual, got off to a perfect start in the yellow-red jersey in front of her friend Simon Schempp with a flawless prone series, but had to let go with a penalty at the second stop. With two flawless standing performances, the Bavarian moved back onto the podium in front of 21,500 spectators – and passed the Italian Dorothea Wierer and the French Jeanne Richard in significantly plus temperatures.
Winner Elvira Öberg was unbeatable with flawless shooting and a 25 second lead and is now 178 points behind as third overall in the World Cup.
In the discipline ranking in the mass start, she moved within one point of Preuß. Richard (0 penalties/+25.4 seconds) came third in the finish sprint behind Preuß. Selina Grotian (2/+1:01.1 minutes) managed a respectable twelfth place after a weak start.
After a three-day break, we head to Antholz for the World Cup dress rehearsal. The women start on Thursday with the 7.5 kilometer sprint, before the pursuit on Saturday and the relay on Sunday. A large part of the team will then complete the final preparation for the highlight of the year in South Tyrol, the World Championships in Lenzerheide will take place from February 12th to 23rd.