Biathlete Benedikt Doll just missed his second podium of the winter at the World Cup in Nove Mesto. At another show by superstar Johannes Thingnes Bø, the 32-year-old finished fourth in the pursuit race over 12.5 km. Third place was only 3.5 seconds short. Roman Rees in ninth and Philipp Nawrath in eleventh rounded off the good result for the German Ski Association (DSV).
“I’m very, very happy. I’ve decided to attack and be offensive. The last time I shot, I had a little too much movement,” said Doll on “ARD” and added with a smile: “I still have yesterday read the first ten pages of the Bø book. That was inspiration enough.”
Bø won after two shooting errors as in the sprint ahead of his brother Tarjei Bø (1/+34.6) and Sweden’s Martin Ponsiluoma (5/+1:11.0). Doll, 12th in the sprint, was 1:14.5 minutes behind the Dominator after two penalties.
For Bø it was already the 13th individual World Cup victory this winter, plus four successes in the relay – a new season record. The overall World Cup can hardly be taken away from the Dominator. After the sprint classification, he also secured the small ball for the pursuit.
At 3.45 p.m. (ARD and Eurosport), the women’s 10 km pursuit will take place. Vanessa Voigt and Denise Herrmann-Wick have secured a very good starting position as fifth and sixth in the sprint.
The World Cup in Nove Mesto will end on Sunday with the mixed and single mixed relay (11:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.).