After seven years, Benedikt Doll once again secured a German home victory at the World Cup in Oberhof.
Despite a mistake in the last shot in the 10-kilometer sprint, the 33-year-old celebrated his second success of the season; it was the first triumph for the DSV men on the Rennsteig since Simon Schempp in the mass start on January 8, 2017. The German biathletes won four out of nine Individual races this season, including three of the four sprints.
The race was postponed early from Thursday to Friday due to squalls, but then Doll kept his perspective in light fog and took the lead in the Sprint World Cup.
Ultimately, the Black Forester ended up just ahead of the Norwegians Sturla Holm Lägreid (1 penalty/+1.8 seconds) and Ende Strömsheim (1/+5.4). Johannes Kühn (0/+29.8) in fifth place and Philipp Nawrath (2/+49.0) in eleventh place also ensured top German results.
Justus Strelow (0/+1:05.6) came in 15th, Roman Rees (0/+1:19.1) and Philipp Horn (3/+1:27.7) missed the top places. Despite the delayed sprint, the hunting race over the 12.5 kilometers will start as planned on Saturday (12.25 p.m.), from then on it should get significantly colder in the Thuringian Forest.
On Sunday (11.30 a.m. / ARD and Eurosport) the men in the relay will be aiming for their third podium place in the third race of the winter.