Biathlon World Cup: France dominates – Simon wins sprint title

Blue-White-Red Festival in Nove Mesto: The Marseillaise also runs at the award ceremony in the second race of the Biathlon World Cup: Julia Simon was the fastest in the sprint on Friday (09.02.2024) and led a French quadruple success. The best German starter was Franziska Preuß.

Fast legs or a flawless shooting performance – these were the prerequisites for a medal in the women’s World Cup sprint. The German biathletes had neither, they all made mistakes at the shooting range and thus missed the jump onto the podium.

The closest was Franziska Preuß, who came sixth (1 mistake/+1:05.3 minutes) and was almost 25 seconds behind the medals. Vanessa Voigt (1/+1:42.5 min) again didn’t have an ideal day on the cross-country ski trail and was in 18th place, one minute behind bronze. After two shooting errors, Sophia Schneider came 28th (+2:04.4 min) and Janina Hettich-Walz 35th (3/+2:14.8 min). This means that all four DSV starters are also qualified for the pursuit race.

Simon gets the gold medal

The French women decided on the title among themselves. Last year’s pursuit world champion Julia Simon was able to set the first benchmark time. Starting the race with start number 2, she hit all ten targets and also pushed herself to the limit on the track. Her 20:07.5 minutes remained safe for a long time, only her compatriot Justine Braisaz-Bouchet came dangerously close to this mark despite a penalty loop. Even though she ran 150 meters extra, she was only 4.9 seconds short. Lou Jeanmonnot secured bronze (1 error/+40.8 seconds). Sophie Chauveau, a Frenchwoman, was also in fourth place.

Preuß relieved after a faux pas in the mixed relay

Preuß was still dissatisfied on Wednesday after the mixed relay because her penalty lap cost the team a possible medal. Even if it wasn’t enough for a place on the podium this time, her mood was completely different: “At first I’m relieved that I’ve got a good feeling again. I know that at a World Championships only medals count and everyone likes them, but I’m still super happy about this race and sixth place.“The running times of the French women are easy”cool” been: “They had mega speed.“Now she hopes to annoy the French women in the pursuit on Sunday.

Voigt: “I’m still a long way away”

Vanessa Voigt, one of the best shooters in the field, started with a good series lying down, but once again couldn’t keep up with the best athletes on the cross-country ski trail. That’s exactly why she needed flawless shooting. “It’s totally annoying with the last shot. But I think I did a good job at the shooting range.“The feeling on the track is a little better than in the mixed relay, but the performance is still good”negative“: “I’m still a long way away.“

Hettich-Walz has to “process” races first

Janina Hettich-Walz started the race as the first of the four DSV ski hunters with start number 9. However, she made three mistakes while standing and had to complete almost half a kilometer additionally. In addition to a leading position, this also meant a good starting position for the pursuit. “My legs were really shaking and I couldn’t get into my position well. Of course I’m extremely disappointed that I did my worst sprint of the season at the climax. I have to process this tonight” she said afterwards.

The fourth in the DSV league, Sophia Schneider, completed a solid race with one mistake each. With the high start number 52 she had to struggle with an increasingly soft track, her race itself was “mixed” been. “I would have liked to have gotten a zero while standing, but unfortunately the fourth shot missed. It is like it is. I fought hard and am in a position where I can still make up a few places on the pursuer.“