Johannes Thingnes Bö won the final race of the World Cup in Lenzerheide. The Norwegian crossed the finish line first in the mass start over 15 kilometers on Sunday (December 17, 2023) despite two shooting errors. The best DSV ski hunter was David Zobel in seventh place. He hasn’t been that good yet this winter.
The podium was completed by Bö’s compatriot Johannes Dale-Skjevdal (1 error/+14.6 seconds) and his brother Tarjei (1/+21.8 seconds). David Zobel beat three opponents in the finish sprint and secured his second-best career result in seventh place (2/+58.1 seconds). He has also achieved the internal qualification standard for the World Championships.
Zobel gets the “second wind” on the final lap
Philipp Horn made it into the top 15 in twelfth place (3/+1:07.5 minutes). Justus Strelow narrowly missed out in 16th place (1/+1:18.2 minutes), Johannes Kühn (3/+1 :23.4 min.) was 18th. Benedikt Doll, who won the sprint on Friday, finished the race in 21st place (+1:25.6 min.) after five shooting errors. Philipp Nawrath came in 24th (5/2:04.6 min.).
David Zobel was all smiles after the race. “After the last shooting I got a second breath and was able to get to the other one. Things got tight again on the last descent, but luckily I won the finish sprint“, he said afterwards on ZDF.
Three Germans start without mistakes
As is usual for the mass start, the field came almost closed to the first of the four shooting stages. Of the German starters, Kühn, Zobel and Horn got through without making any mistakes and joined the chasing group. Strelow made one mistake, Doll and Nawrath had to go twice. In the lead was Emilien Jacquelin, who completed the prone shooting very quickly and without mistakes.
Zobel keeps the connection
The Frenchman was unstoppable in the second shooting and initially increased his lead somewhat. Zobel continued to hold his own and finished seventh. Kühn and Horn had to do an extra lap, they took places eleven to 13 with Strelow, who made no mistakes this time. Doll and Nawrath were able to work their way up a bit after five hits.
Christoph Nahr, Sportschau, December 17, 2023 4:16 p.m
Norwegians are at the top
By the third shooting, the pursuers, led by Johannes Thingnes Bö, caught up with the leader. From the group of eight, the Norwegians Tarjei Bö, Johannes Dale-Skjevdal and Vebjörn Sörum were the first to go back onto the trail. Zobel made his first mistake, but was initially able to keep his eighth place. Nawrath (five hits) worked his way up to tenth place. Strelow (no mistakes) and Kühn (one mistake) were also in the top 20. Horn and Doll fell back again with two more penalties.
Philipp Nawrath was in good shape until the last shooting.
Gust with a relaxed final lap – Zobel fights
In the last shooting, Johannes Thingnes Bö kept his nerve and was the only one of his compatriots to make no mistakes. He took the lead and was able to start the final lap relaxed thanks to an 18 second lead. Nawrath lost a possible top position with three mistakes. Zobel also had to go into the penalty loop once, but was still able to fight for a top ten place, which he was finally able to secure in the finish sprint.
Strelow didn’t miss a shot at the end, as did Horn. Kühn and Doll scored another ticket.
Weapons incident involving Norwegian Laegreid
Before the race there was excitement about Sturla Holm Laegreid. The five-time biathlon world champion from Norway accidentally fired a shot during dry training in the team hotel and was excluded from the mass start because of a violation of the world association’s safety regulations.
According to a spokesman for the Graubünden cantonal police, Laegreid is also at risk of being reported by the Swiss authorities for “careless handling of weapons”.
The next stop will be Oberhof in the new year
The competition year is over for the biathletes, now it’s time for the Christmas break, which will still be used for training sessions. Because shortly after the turn of the year, the two World Cups continue in Germany in Oberhof (January 4th to 7th) and Ruhpolding (January 10th to 14th).