biathlon
Messed up prone shooting: Doll has no chance in Oberhof
Benedikt Doll prone shooting. photo
© Martin Schutt/dpa
The Norwegian biathletes dominate the men’s pursuit race in Oberhof. The local heroes have big problems at the shooting range. For the women, Franziska Preuß is struggling on the cross-country ski trail.
Benedikt Doll and Franziska Preuß have their good starting points Cannot use the Biathlon World Cup in Oberhof.
The 33-year-old Doll fell far behind after a botched prone stage and, after his sprint success the day before, ended up in twelfth place in the pursuit after five penalties, 1:28.9 minutes behind. Preuß (2 shooting errors) missed the podium by 16 seconds in seventh place due to problems on the cross-country ski trail.
“It doesn’t have much to do with bad luck. It was just maximum stupidity. I’m quite annoyed. It was technically poorly done,” said Doll on ARD. The Norwegians won the men’s race among themselves. With the premiere winner Endre Strömsheim (2), Sturla Holm Laegreid (2), Johannes Dale-Skjevdal (1), Tarjei Bö (3) and Johannes Thingnes Bö (4), five of them landed in the top five places in front of 20,500 spectators.
In front of his home crowd, Johannes Kühn took eighth place as the best German. He made two mistakes at the shooting range. “It was good overall, but the others were just better,” said Kühn. From a German perspective, only Philipp Horn (3) and Roman Rees (2) improved in the hunt race and ended up in 13th and 14th place. Justus Strelow (1) crossed the finish line in 16th place. Philipp Nawrath also had problems at the shooting range. He missed six times and fell from eleventh place to 22nd.
Doll doesn’t hit while lying down
Doll started the race together with Laegreid and the eventual winner, but then missed three targets in the first shooting. He also had to do two extra laps on the second insert. It was only thanks to a flawless standing stage that he worked his way forward again.
Preuß, who started as the second athlete, was pushed off the podium in the final lap. “I didn’t have the best skis, and that bothered me. With the starting position we were hoping for more,” said Preuss. Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (3) gave up her chance of victory in the last shooting, her French compatriot Julia Simon (2) intercepted the overall World Cup leader and celebrated her first win of the season.
With Preuß, Janina Hettich-Walz (11th/2), Sophia Schneider (14th/1) and Vanessa Voigt (18th/1), who stumbled on the way to the finish, four German women made it into the list best 20. Hanna Kebinger made up eleven places (22nd/2). Selina Grotian missed seven targets and ended up in 45th place.