Franziska Preuß struggled in the Oberhof sprint, finishing 28th after three penalty loops. French athlete Paula Botet surprised many by winning with a flawless performance, while only five competitors remained error-free. Preuß criticized the IBU for not adapting the starting groups amidst challenging weather, a sentiment echoed by her competitors. Despite her setbacks, Preuß retains her lead in the World Cup standings. Noteworthy performances included Julia Tannheimer in ninth and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold’s impressive return to racing.
Franziska Preuß Struggles in Oberhof Sprint
Franziska Preuß faced a challenging day in the sprint event held in Oberhof, failing to replicate her recent stellar performances. The overall leader of the World Cup finished in 28th place amidst tough weather conditions, as French athlete Paula Botet claimed victory.
In the rainy and foggy atmosphere of Oberhof, Preuß was forced to enter the penalty loop three times, which severely impacted her chances of reaching the podium. Ultimately, she concluded the race with a time of +2:00.2 minutes, having made three mistakes.
Preuß Questions IBU’s Decisions
After the race, Preuß reflected on her performance, acknowledging, “My race was bad,” but she also highlighted that the circumstances played a significant role. “I didn’t feel so bad in terms of energy, but it just kept getting deeper,” she expressed during an interview with ZDF. Preuß voiced her frustration towards the International Biathlon Union (IBU), stating, “When it rains like hell, every child knows it gets deeper and deeper.” She questioned the IBU’s choice not to adjust the starting groups, leading to challenging conditions.
The IBU quickly responded, with communications chief Christian Winkler stating, “There was a unanimous decision. None of the coaches insisted on changing anything because they believed the track would hold.” This response indicates the federation’s stance on the race’s organization.
Despite Preuß’s struggles, her competitors also found the conditions tough. French biathlete Justine Braisaz-Bouchet faltered during standing shooting, missing three shots in a row. Overall, only five athletes managed to finish without errors, reflecting the challenging environment of the Oberhof course.
Surprising Victory for Paula Botet
The sprint victory came as a surprise to many, with Paula Botet from France finishing without any mistakes and clocking a time of 22:52.8 minutes. She was followed by Norway’s Maren Kirkeeide, who finished +31.1 seconds behind, and Bulgaria’s Milena Todorova, who trailed by +35 seconds. Both Kirkeeide and Todorova managed to secure podium spots despite facing penalties.
Botet celebrated her return to the World Cup after competing in the IBU Cup, expressing disbelief at her win, “I thought many would overtake me,” she shared with ZDF post-race.
On the German front, Julia Tannheimer stood out, finishing ninth with only one penalty. Tannheimer’s solid performance made her the top German competitor. In contrast, Julia Kink placed 36th with two mistakes, while her teammate Sophia Schneider finished closely behind her. Vanessa Voigt ended the day with the weakest performance among the Germans, coming in 68th.
Notable Comebacks and Future Races
Selina Grotian demonstrated improvement by executing flawless prone shooting but stumbled during her second shooting, resulting in a tenth-place finish. Meanwhile, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold made a remarkable return to competition just weeks after heart surgery, finishing in 15th place and expressing her excitement about racing so soon after her procedure.
Despite the disappointing results in Oberhof, Franziska Preuß maintains her lead in the overall World Cup standings, wearing the yellow jersey. Upcoming events in Oberhof include the pursuit, single mixed relay, and mixed relay.
Stay updated with the biathlon calendar, featuring all the key dates from the World Cup in Kontiolahti to the World Championships in Lenzerheide, culminating in the season finale in Oslo. Don’t miss exclusive insights from French biathlete Paula Botet about her unexpected triumph in the sprint race.