Biathlete Franziska Preuss had to take the lead in the overall World Cup in the penultimate season race. While the Germans weakened in the persecution of Oslo on the shooting range, the French woman Lou JeanMonnot took over the yellow jersey.
After Prussia had a furious present at the start of the World Cup final at the legendary spar in the sprint, JeanMonnot turned the skewer on Saturday (22.03.2025). The French woman only made one mistake over 10 kilometers in the hunting race and grabbed her eighth World Cup victory this season and the yellow jersey of the overall World Cup leaders. Elvira Öberg from Sweden (2 errors/+ 22.2 seconds) and the Swiss Lena Häcki-Groß (2/+ 24.2) completed the podium.
Prussia is missing five points to the crystal ball
Preuss made three mistakes in the four shooting deposits and finished fifth (+26.3 seconds). “It was very difficult today. I gave everything and fought for every position“, the 31-year-old said in the sports show interview. Since December, Preuss has held the lead in the overall World Cup. The disappointment was correspondingly great:”The three mistakes really hurt. I don’t know what was going on. I have to let that sink first.“
Before the final mass start on Sunday, Preuss’ deficit is only five points – the sixth overall victory of a German biathlete is still possible. For her big dream, however, she definitely has to finish in front of JeanMonnot. In addition to the yellow jersey, this also secured the small crystal ball for the best chase this season. “I love it against you (Prussia, note d. Red.) to fight and am impressed by your performance“, the winner said with a view to the exciting fight for the overall ranking.
In the past, Preuss does not get out of the concept
Prussia and JeanMonnot had already fought a gripping duel the day before, at the end of which 0.2 seconds should make the difference. At the same time, both of them opened the penultimate race of the season. The French woman took the lead right after the start. Prusser stuck to her heels, but had to accept a damper in the first lying stop after the last shot missed his destination. JeanMonnot, on the other hand, kept harmless and expanded her previously minimal lead to 24 seconds.
During the second shooting, the mirror -inverted picture: Preuss moved all five slices, her competitor had to go to the penalty. Almost at the same time, the duo went back on the track, a few seconds behind it the previously flawless Frenchwoman Julia Simon.
JeanMonnot pulls in Standing stop of that
Preuss presented himself in a strong constitution and had good material under his feet. However, the serious pace sharpness failed to materialize. This was the next showdown in the standing stop. But while JeanMonnot kept his nerve with five full fights, Preuss failed twice and, as a tenth, fell behind as tenth with 48 seconds.
She was able to make up for a few places until the final shooting, but thanks to the next flawless series, the French woman was already on and off and ran the victory without any problems. But Preuss also delivered under pressure and hit all the slices again.
Stock fracture makes it difficult to catch up
The final round was about the two remaining podium places and accordingly enormously important points in the fight for the overall World Cup. Ultimately, however, a few seconds were missing. Also because Häcki-Groß accidentally stepped onto the stick at the final round, but immediately apologized for this.
Despite the damper, DSV sports director Felix Bitterling looked optimistically: “I clearly told her that nothing has been lost yet. I am absolutely sure that Franzi still has something in the tank and a very large word will have a say.”
Weidel and Co. past top 20
The other German biathletes missed the top 20. Behind Prussia, Anna Weidel finished 23rd with just one criminal round (+1: 56.8 minutes). Stefanie Scherer (0/+ 2: 27.8), Julia Tannheimer (4/+ 2: 29.1) and Sophia Schneider (3/+ 2: 29.7) landed in places 36, 37 and 40. Johanna Puff finished 54 after four mistakes (+ 4: 19.4). Selina Grotian had not qualified for the persecution after her fall the day before.