Norway’s biathletes get their first World Cup gold in Oberhof. Germany’s medal dream in the mixed relay bursts at the shooting range.
First competition at the Biathlon World Championships in Oberhof – and excitement right up to the last shot: The Italian Tommaso Giacomel stood on the first mat, next to him the Norwegian Johannes Thingnes Bö. But the starting position was clear: only one nation could secure this first World Championship gold in the mixed relay in Oberhof.
First Bö forgave once, then Giacomel forgave once too. However, both hit their spares and then went ski to ski back onto the track, where the duel quickly became one-sided. After all, no biathlete is as quick there as Bö – he impressively led Norway to victory in the first competition of the Biathlon World Championships in Oberhof. Silver went to Giacomel’s Italian and bronze to France’s relay.
Favorites from Norway have to go straight to the penalty loop
The Biathlon World Championships started on Tuesday evening with the opening ceremony, the atmosphere was already good there, so now the mixed relay, which is probably the most hard-fought competition. Finally, the top is narrowest in teams of four, which consist of two women and two men. Norway was considered the big favourite, but Germany also figured out its chances of winning a medal – but finally finished sixth.
Especially in the combination of Vanessa Voigt, Denise Herrmann-Wick, Benedikt Doll, Roman Rees there was also a real world leader at the World Cup at home. Voigt, however, didn’t hit as usual – with two spares in her two shooting bouts. And the favorites from Norway even had to go to the penalty loop at first because Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold missed the standing stage.
France uses the mistakes of the competition
So it was up to Julia Simon to be the first to hand over to Anais Chevalier-Bouchet for France. Close behind: Lisa Vittozzi, Italy, who sent off Dorothea Wierer. It should stay that way for now.
Germany moved up to eleventh, a minute down, but Denise Herrmann-Wick then put the German team back in third with just one spare. “It was a really great atmosphere,” she said on ZDF. “That gives hope for more. And I hope that we will let it carry us.”
Germany’s Denise Herrmann-Wick changes to Benedikt Doll
Norway, with phenomenal closing duo Sturla Holm Laegreid and Johannes Thingnes Boe, followed in fifth place. In the Oberhofer Stadium they played Alex Christensen’s sounds from the “Das Boot” soundtrack – and the tension rose.
Doll’s mistake shatters Germany’s dream of a medal: “Catastrophe”
Doll was only 26.9 seconds down on the leaders due to Herrmann-Wick’s strong mileage. The crowd cheered him on, but he too had to go to the penalty loop in prone – eighth place, the DSV relay team’s dream of a medal was shattered.
“It annoys me a lot,” he said. “Especially since it wasn’t down to the wind. Shooting was just a disaster.” I feel sorry for the team members. Rees was unable to close the gap, but still led the team to sixth place.
And in front? Norway was the first to surrender, ahead of France and Italy. Previously, Laegreid delivered a race that was as furious as it was flawless. The favorites were back where you expected them to be. And after the exciting final chord at the shooting range, final runner Johannes Thingnes Bö did what he does best: He crossed the finish line first.
Sturla Holm Laegreid and Johannes Thingnes Boe