World Cup in Ruhpolding
“Cool race”: Biathletes impress as third in the relay
The German relay team around Franziska Preuß (l) and Hanna Kebinger came third in Ruhpolding. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
In a thrilling relay race, the German biathletes fight for victory for a long time. At the start of the home World Cup in Ruhpolding, we ended up in third place.
Janina Hettich-Walz, Sophia Schneider, Franziska Preuß and Hanna Kebinger the La-Ola with the thousands of enthusiastic fans.
With third place in the relay, the German biathletes got off to a great start at the home World Cup in Ruhpolding – although the stress level was high after the botched Oberhof relay race. “We were all really exhausted this morning or yesterday evening,” Preuss reported with a laugh after the race. Final runner Kebinger was also “ultra-nervous”: “When I heard that I had to run at the end, I started to sweat a little.”
While things hadn’t worked at all at the shooting range the previous week, this time only three spares were the foundation for the second relay podium of the winter. Only the French and Swedes were too strong in a long, thrilling battle because they shot just as well and were in a different league when it came to running.
French women too strong even without Braisaz-Bouchet
“It was a blessing for all four of us. We appreciate it even more to be on the podium in front of our home crowd,” said Preuß and spoke of a really “cool” race. After 4 x 6 kilometers, the gap to the outstanding French women led by final runner Julia Simon was 46.7 seconds at the finish – and her best, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, was even missing.
On Sunday in Oberhof, Preuß & Co. only managed fifth place after three penalties and 15 spare rounds. Only at the start of the season in Östersund, Sweden, the team had previously managed to make it onto the podium in third place this World Cup winter, and in Hochfilzen in December they had only managed to reach fifth place.
German team without injured Vanessa Voigt
After a strong start with no shooting errors, Hettich-Walz took the lead early on. In perfect conditions with temperatures just below freezing, a close race developed on the 2012 World Championship tracks. The German team had to do without Vanessa Voigt, who was most recently the starting runner in Oberhof. The Thuringian took a break due to a hand injury, but is still scheduled to start in Chiemgau.
After she had to use two extra cartridges in the standing stage, Hettich-Walz handed over to Schneider in sixth place. The 26-year-old Bavarian performed flawlessly at her home game and safely hit all ten shots on target. Co-favorites Norway had already lost a lot at this point and were at the back of the field after two penalties, and in the end they only finished tenth.
Kebinger not yet in top shape after corona infection
In her adopted homeland, former world champion Preuß entered the cross-country ski trail in fourth place, just ten seconds behind Italy, but overtook the leaders before her first shooting. With a perfect quick-fire performance, the 29-year-old continued to put the competition under pressure. Preuß continued to make no mistakes to the cheers of the spectators, only briefly losing first place on the track and handing over to Kebinger in front of Sweden.
The Bavarian, who was inexperienced as the final runner, was unable to keep up with the French Simon and the Swede Elvira Öberg on the course, but still remained well ahead in second place after the standing stage. It was only on the final lap that the 26-year-old lost a lot of time. “I tried to see it as an opportunity. There are the best runners in the field and it’s just cool to be so close again,” said Kebinger, who is not yet back in her best shape due to a corona infection.
The World Cup in Ruhpolding continues on Thursday (2.30 p.m./ZDF and Eurosport) with the men’s relay. The women will not be challenged again in the sprint until Friday afternoon.