At the 15 km mass start race of the men in Antholz (ITA) Benedikt Doll secured his first World Cup victory this season.
The German had only one penalty loop in the whole race and was thus unbeatable in the last individual race before the Olympic Winter Games.
31.3 seconds behind, Norway's Johannes Thingnes Boe finished second with a total of three misses ahead of his compatriot Sturla Holm Laegreid who also had to ski three penalty laps.
The young Norwegian Sivert Bakken, nominated for the Olympics, celebrated the best individual result of his biathlon career with fifth place.
World Cup leader Quentin Fillon Maillet, failed to hit the targets a total of six times and finished eighth. Anton Babikov from Russia finished tenth.
Tarjei Boe, Vetle Christiansen , Simon Desthieux and Fabien Claude finished thirteenth, fourteenth fifteenth and seventeenth respectively.
Results 15 km mas start men, Antholz.
1. Benedikt Doll, GER 37.14,9 Min.
2. Johannes Thingnes Boe, NOR + 31,3 Sek.
3. Sturla Holm Laegreid, NOR + 1.28,8 Min.
5. Sivert Bakken, NOR + 1.35,2 Min.
8. Quentin Fillon Maillet, FRA + 1.55,5 Min.
10.Anton Babikov, RUS + 1.58,7 Min.
Benedikt Doll: "It was a hard work today, of course I benefited from Johannes' last mistake, but I am very happy about my first victory this season.
Statement JTB." I am not dissatisfied today, but the last miss annoys me a lot, I felt good today and could have even won the race then."
Statement Sturla Holm Laegreid :" I love this track here in Antholz, I always feel very comfortable here and I am happy about the third place."
Text: Helmut Hanus
Picture: K.Voigt Photography