Even at the second race in Nove Mesto, biathlete Franziska Preuss does not go according to plan. The lead in the overall World Cup continues. It went much better for Selina Grotian.
Preuss had spaid three times in the persecution of over ten kilometers on Saturday (March 8th, 2025). The 30-year-old then held harmlessly, but more than 13th place (+1: 48.6 minutes) no longer jumped out for the world champion. Already in the sprint the day before she had only become 15.
In the Sportschau interview, Preuss later admitted: “The three mistakes were already a bitter damper, but I think I made the best of it. It is not easy to do, I had to pour my head on the track. But when I consider where I was, it was still halfway okay in the end.”
Since the French woman Lou JeanMonnot, Prussia’s worst competitor in the fight for the overall World Cup, when fourth also ended up in front of the German, the lead melted 36 points together. There are still five decisions until the end of the season.
Day victory for Simon – Grotian Fifth
The day victory secured single world champion Julia Simon in spring-like temperatures. The French woman only shot one mistake and won her 14th World Cup victory in front of Hanna Öberg from Sweden in a sovereign manner (2 errors/+ 17.2 seconds). Oceane Michelon (2/+ 19.2) underlined third place that once again the strong appearance of the French.
Selina Grotian also showed a great race and even ran around the podium on the last round. In the end, the 20-year-old made fifth place after a mistake (+ 24.1). “I went to the race relaxed and tried to stay with me at the shooting range. I think I succeeded“, Grotian said afterwards in the Sportschau interview.
Starting nightmare for Prussia
It looked very different with Preuss. After the damper in the sprint, printed on her. She had to wait 54 seconds before she could finally start. But the next bitter setback followed the first time they shoot. Despite good conditions, Prussia shot penetrated and gave up all realistic chances of the podium early on.
Even more: the competition had not bare in the laboratory conditions and expanded the lead to more than two minutes. Grotian, who started seven seconds before Prussia, also came through error -free and stayed in the top 10.
Meanwhile, the sprint winner Ingrid Landmark Tangrevold (Norway) fought a duel with three French women at the second shooting. In addition to the Norwegian, only JeanMonnot remained without mistakes, behind it, Grotian had joined the chasing group again with five full hits. And Prussia also showed her usual strength at the shooting range and was able to make some ground thanks to a flawless series – even if the gap to the front remained almost unchanged.
Prussian increases – Grotian fights in vain
With Grotian, another DSV ski hunter had the chance to attack the podium places that day. However, she made her first miss in the standing and fell back. Prussia, on the other hand, had her nerves under control again and hit all five slices. However, this was also successful, who had taken over the leadership of Tangrevold and came to the final shooting with a comfortable lead.
But the French woman missed two cartridges. Teammate Simon took the chance, passed a flawless series and ran the victory safely. Behind it, Grotian suddenly fought around the podium after five hits. The 20-year-old was able to quickly close the little gap to her concure women, but had also left grains and could not add anything on the last few meters.
Prussia does without the season
Julia Tannheimer and Sophia Schneider landed in the ranks 20 and 22. Johanna Puff (3 errors) and Marlene Fichtner (2), after each, started the race as 49th and 51.
Prussia will only be at the start of the World Cup at the Pokljuka next Thursday. She does not use the season in Nove Mesto (4:45 p.m. live in the first one) due to the load control.