Lou Jeanmonnot won the second biathlon sprint of the Olympic season. The Frenchwoman took victory in Hochfilzen ahead of the Norwegian Maren Kirkeeide (0, +15.3) and Anna Magnusson (0, +16.1s).
For the German biathletes, the World Cup season continues as it began: the DSV starters had nothing to do with the podium places. Vanessa Voigt and Anna Weidel are getting closer to the top places.
Voigt was the best German seventh (0, +37.7s). “I’m just really proud”said the 28-year-old at the ARD microphone. “You don’t always see what’s behind it, the sweat, the tears.” Just behind her was Anna Weidel, who was able to demonstrate when shooting: She made no mistakes and set one of the fastest times at the shooting range. It was only 49 seconds in total.
The remaining DSV starters ended up far behind in the lower places: Janina Hettich-Walz (4, +1.57.9) ended up in 53rd place, closely followed by Julia Tannheimer (4, +1.58.6) in 54th place. Julia Kink, who fell on the trail and lost her glasses, ended up in 59th place (2, +2.05.8).
Preuss and Grotian were missing due to illness
The DSV team had to cope without two big names on Friday: the overall World Cup winner Franziska Preuß and Selina Grotian were both missing due to illness. After a corona infection, the World Cup stop in Austria came too early for both of them. With a view to the Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo in February, Preuß and Grotian wanted to prevent a premature restart after the illness.
Both then want to compete again in Le Grand Bornand, France “Gather self-confidence before heading into the Christmas break”as DSV sports director Felix Bitterling said in the run-up to the sprint in Hochfilzen.
Julia Simon returns after suspension
Julia Simon was there again: The Frenchwoman returned to the World Cup after being banned because of her credit card affair. In Hochfilzen it was completely shielded – the mood in the French team is said to be still difficult.
The past few months have not been easy, Simon revealed in the ARD interview. But on Friday she had a lot of fun. “I feel good”said Simon into the ARD microphone after the race.