Last at WM 2020 on the podium
The German team, which last ran on the podium with Erik Lesser and Franziska Preuss at the 2020 World Cup in Pokljuka, is waiting for a podium in the single mixed relay. After finishing sixth for the German mixed relay on Saturday and the two sprint races on Friday (January 7th, 2022), the Germans are still waiting for a podium finish at the home World Cup in the Thuringian Forest.
1st round: Lesser hands over to one
Starting runner Erik Lesser started the 9 x 1.5 kilometer race at high speed. The Thuringian was the fastest on the trail in his two starting laps and was also able to convince at the shooting range. The 33-year-old cleared everything while lying down, but standing a spare prevented a super series like the last one in the World Team Challenge, when he hit all the targets in the mass start with partner Janina Hettich. Because the competition did not remain flawless either, Lesser was the first to hand over to Franziska Hildebrand.
2nd round: Hildebrand standing strong
The Saxon hitchhiker, who was only allowed to run three World Cup races this winter, had to reload twice in her first shooting and fell back to fifth. Hildebrand cleared everything standing and benefited from mistakes made by the competition. Although Hildebrand only had the 16th best running time in her lap, she took the lead.
3rd round: Lesser in front despite Strauchler
In the third lap, Lesser initially stayed ahead. A running stumble on the climb and a mistake standing cost Lesser some time, the German handed over 2.1 seconds behind the Russian Anton Babikow to Franziska Hildebrand. As the second fastest on the third lap, Lesser was back at the front here. Ukraine and Austria remained within striking distance of the podium during the third change, while the top favorites from Norway and France fell far behind with one and three penalties.
4th round: Hildebrand loses battle for podium place
Two shooting errors, for which Hildebrand needed all three spare rounds, threw Hildebrand back to third in her third shooting. The podium was now in danger. With three spare rounds standing, Hildebrand lost third place – and fell back to seventh place on the trail.