Hinz with two penalties – “that was nothing”
Starter Voigt delivered a clean first stage. The 24-year-old made three spares while standing and was just able to avoid a penalty loop. The Thuringian handed over to Hinz in eighth place. The gap to the Norwegians, who were leading after the first exchange, was 43.3 seconds.
Hinz had a clean, fast first shot to move the German squadron into fourth place. But in the standing stage, Bayern dropped everything they had worked up to then. In strong gusts, she missed the targets and had two penalties. Germany dropped to 15th place.
Hinz was very disappointed at the finish: “I don’t know myself, I don’t even know what to say. I was looking forward to the relay, but maybe it has to do with the head in standing. I’m very disappointed – it was nothing”said the 29-year-old in the ZDF.
Herrmann brings German squadron to fourth place
With a deficit of 2:31 minutes on Norway, Hinz Preuss sent on the six-kilometer route. Preuss shot clean in prone, she had to reload twice in standing – the Bavarian handed over to anchor Denise Herrmann in tenth place (+2:04.9 min.). The Olympic champion was almost flawless in shooting – with only one spare she made up places and pushed the German relay team up to fourth place (+1:57.1 min.).
Biathletes show solidarity with Ukraine
The biathletes showed their solidarity with Ukraine in Kontiolahti. In addition to the German women’s relay, many other teams competed with yellow and blue hearts on their clothing or weapons. The entire Czech team appeared in winter hats in the national colors of Ukraine. In addition, before the start, pictures of the Ukrainian skiers were shown on a large video screen – including those of the 19-year-old junior biathlete Yevhen Malyshev, who died in the war.
Following the Russian invasion of their homeland, the Ukrainian team has decided not to compete in the remaining three World Cups this winter. In ex-world champion Dmytro Pidruchnji and relay Olympic champion Julia Dschima, the best biathletes in their country are currently fighting at the front in the war against Russia.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus are also no longer at the start in Finland. They have been excluded by the World Association IBU until further notice. The races in Kontiolahti take place only around 70 kilometers from the Russian border.
Source: red/dpa