The Norwegian team again lived up to its role as favorites on the final day of the Biathlon World Cup in Nove Mesto, where the last relay competitions were held. The first event was the 4 x 6 kilometer mixed relay, in which the Norwegian team was the only nation to be found on the podium in all mixed relays held so far. The Norwegians started in their best line-up.
Tiril Eckhoff, Marte Olsbu as well as Tarjei and Johannes Thingnes Boe celebrated a start-to-finish victory and left no chance to their competitors. Remarkable was also the second place of the Italians who showed a strong performance. As in the World Championships, the bronze medal went to Sweden who won against France because Simon Desthieux had to ski one penalty loop. Seventh place went to Russia with their top skier Alexander Loginov who also had to ski two penalty loops.
It was not so easy for the German mixed relay team today, which was already eliminated from the fight for the medals after the first two changes. In the meantime Arnd Peiffer and Benni Doll were on rank 21 but they were able to limit the damage by moving up a few places. But in the end they had to be satisfied with a gap of 3:38.0 minutes and ninth place.
Sweden ahead of Norway in Single Mixed
The last relay victory of this season goes to Sweden. In Vysocina Arena in Nove Mesto na Morave Sebastian Samuelsson fought down Norwegian shooting star Sturla Holm Laegreid on the finish line and secured victory for his team in Single Mixed Relay together with his partner Linn Persson. For a long time it looked like another victory for Norway, which was leading the whole race. Ingrid Tandrevold also made a good figure and kept her lead at the top. But Team Sweden always in waiting position did not allow the Norwegian duo to break away decisively. Surprising was the third place for the strong shooting US duo Susann Dunklee and Shawn Doherty. The French team finished seventh due to their shooting mistakes.
With the second place Norway could furthermore prevail in the exciting showdown against France and secure the victory in the Mixed Relay World Cup with 228 points. The French took second place with 211 points, just ahead of Team Sweden with 210 points.
The German team with Janina Hettich and Roman Rees was also unable to make it to the podium in the single mixed. With a total of twelve reloads and a gap of 1.39,5 minutes they did not get beyond eleventh place.
Norwegische Mixed-Staffel dominierend
Ihrer Favoriten Rolle gerecht wurde wieder das norwegische Team am Finaltag des Biathlon Weltcups von Nove Mesto, wo die letzten Staffelwettbewerbe anstanden. Den Anfang machte die 4 x 6 Kilometer Mixed Staffel, in der das norwegische Team die einzige Nation war, die bei allen bisher ausgetragenen Mixed-Staffeln auf dem Podest zu finden war. Die Norweger gingen in Bestbesetzung an den Start.
Was für eine unglaubliche Woche für uns hier in Nove Mesto. Unser Team hat heute von Anfang an super funktioniert, aber so langsam merkt man das die Kräfte etwas nachlassen.“
Das war heute wieder eine Demonstration von unserem Team. Tiril und Marte haben uns einen guten Vorsprung mit auf den Weg gegeben, den Rest haben Johannes und ich dann erledigt.“
Wir wollten heute um den Sieg mitkämpfen, wussten aber dass dies keine einfache Angelegenheit werden würde.Als ich zum Schluss mit Sturla mitgehen konnte, habe ich gemerkt, dass er nicht mehr so frisch wirkte und konnte meinen Schlußsprint anziehen. Es war knapp, doch wir freuen uns sehr über unseren Sieg.“
Wir mussten das ganze Rennen vorn die Führungsarbeit machen und hatten keine Zeit uns etwas auszuruhen. Als ich merkte das ich mich nicht absetzen konnte, musste ich es auf einen Sprint ankommen lassen, leider zu Gunsten von Schweden. Mit unserem zweiten Platz konnten wir uns jedoch den Gesamtweltcup in der Single-Mixed Wertung sichern.“