The final day in Antholz saw the Women’s Relay and the Men’s Pursuit. Both races were a three way fight for the win!
Results
In the Women’s Relay it was a battle from the start between Norway, France and Sweden for the top spot. All three teams had the lead at different stages of the race but it was ultimately Sweden who came away victorious.
The team of Johanna Skottheim, Ella Halvarsson, Anna Magnussen and Hanna Oberg took the win but unfortunately not in they way they or anybody wanted. With Oberg battling Ingrid Tandrevold for gold on the final lap there was a clash of skis which meant Hanna’s pole went between Ingrid’s leg and tripped her up. Hanna managed to stay upright and so was able to ski to the finish unchallenged robbing us of an almighty sprint finish!
It was still a great result for the Norwegian team of Karoline Knotten, Ragnhild Femsteinevik, Maren Kireeide and Tandrevold. The glitter girls with their matching hair scrunchies (different colours for each leg) have been improving in every race and will be dangerous at World Championships.
France were third with Jeanne Richard, Lou Jeanmonnot, Oceane Michelon and Julia Simon. Jeanmonnot put them in the lead but Michelon couldn’t keep it losing a lot of time on her last lap and Simon couldn’t pull it back.
The Men’s Pursuit was all about the top three from the Sprint. It was Sturla Laegreid who triumphed winning the race by shooting the perfect 20/20.
Tarjei Boe took second place despite coming out of the final shoot in third. A miss on the final shoot for 19/20 cost him the chance to battle Sturla for the win. He did manage to pass Tommaso Giacomel on the last loop however with the young Italian tiring.
Giacomel hit 18/20 and catching up those penalty loops cost him second place as a lap skied with Johannes Boe and Martin Ponsiluoma took it’s toll. However his third podium in a row, and second at home, is a record for an Italian man so well done to him!
Hits
The Swiss women were 4th again! They will be desperate to make the podium in Lenzerheide and they have a chance especially if any of the big teams slip up.
The ‘golden’ relay legs came from Skottheim, Jeanmonnot, Magnusson and Oberg.
A few men made some good gains today like Quentin Fillon Maillet 28th to 8th, Antonin Guigonnat 43rd to 12th, Maxime Germain from 58th to 26th but the best of all taking his personal best was Viktor Brandt from 51st to 18th!
Misses
Poor Deedra Irwin had a nasty fall on the icy downhill but luckily she was ok. Three teams were lapped today but the Lithuanian team avoided that ignominy and were 16th in only their second relay after 6 years absence.
The German team were missing both Franziska Preuss and Selina Grotian and so had to draft in Johanna Puff, who wasn’t even in Antholz, into the team. They finished 8th.
After some great results this season it was not a good race for Vitezslav Hornig missing 7 going from 7th to 35th. Martin Ponsiluoma’s shooting woes continuing missing 6.
Extra bullets
Sweden are now leading the Women’s Relay standings with a 15 point lead over France and Norway move into third.
Sturla is now joint leader with Johannes Boe in the Pursuit standings with 290 points each. However he has increased his lead in the total score to 48 points.
Campbell Wright stays in the blue bib with a 61 point lead over Vitalii Mandzyn.
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