Franziska Preuß struggled during the Oberhof sprint, finishing 28th amidst harsh weather, while Paula Botet from France took first place. Preuß criticized the IBU for not adjusting the starting order, which contributed to difficult race conditions. Despite her performance, where she had three penalty loops and three shooting errors, she remains the overall World Cup leader. Other competitors faced challenges too, with only five finishing without errors, and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold made a notable comeback after heart surgery.
Franziska Preuß Struggles in Oberhof Sprint
Franziska Preuß faced a challenging day during the sprint event in Oberhof, failing to replicate her performances from previous weeks. The current overall World Cup leader finished in 28th place amidst tough weather conditions, while Paula Botet from France claimed victory. Following the race, Preuß voiced serious criticisms toward the International Biathlon Union (IBU).
It was a tough afternoon for Preuß as she battled through rain and fog, which complicated her performance. With three trips to the penalty loop, she fell significantly short of the podium, concluding the race with a time of +2:00.2 minutes and three shooting errors.
Preuß’s Criticism of IBU and Competitors’ Struggles
Reflecting on her race, Preuß acknowledged her poor performance while also noting that external conditions played a role. “I didn’t feel that bad in terms of energy, but it just got deeper and deeper,” she explained to ZDF, expressing frustration with the IBU’s decision-making.
Preuß was particularly upset about the race conditions, stating, “When it rains heavily, everyone knows it gets worse.” She questioned why the IBU did not consider altering the starting group, which left competitors struggling through muddy terrain.
The IBU responded to her claims, clarifying that there was a collective agreement among coaches to maintain the original starting order, believing the course would hold up.
Despite her struggles, Preuß found some solace knowing her fellow competitors, including French athlete Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, also faced difficulties, with Braisaz-Bouchet missing three shots in the standing stage. Only five athletes managed to finish without errors, highlighting the challenging conditions.
In an unexpected twist, Paula Botet seized the victory, completing the race without any errors in a time of 22:52.8 minutes. Maren Kirkeeide from Norway and Milena Todorova from Bulgaria rounded out the podium, both managing to secure their spots despite facing penalty loops.
Julia Tannheimer emerged as the best German competitor, finishing ninth with only one missed shot. Meanwhile, Julia Kink and Sophia Schneider struggled, finishing in 36th and just behind her, respectively. Vanessa Voigt had the toughest day among the Germans, landing in 68th place.
Selina Grotian, who faced challenges in the previous year, performed well but slipped to tenth place after a mistake during her second shooting.
Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold made a remarkable return to competition after heart surgery just three weeks prior, finishing 15th and expressing her delight in participating so soon after her operation.
Despite the disappointing performance in Oberhof, Franziska Preuß holds onto her yellow jersey as the overall World Cup leader, having started the sprint with a commanding lead. The upcoming events in Oberhof include the pursuit, single mixed relay, and mixed relay.
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