Welcome to the test event for the Olympic Games in 2026 in the revamped arena! Or the World Cup in Antholz whichever you prefer. There wasn’t the usual Antholz sunshine today but there was Alberto Tomba!
Results
Lou Jeanmonnot took her 5th win of the season in some style! It was a perfect race hitting 10/10 and skiing so well she was only 0.1 of a second behind Anamarija Lampic! This is her first Sprint win this season and the second of her career.
She had a bit of a scare in the finish area from Selina Grotian who also had a fantastic race. The 20-year-old hit 10/10 too and was just 7.2 seconds behind Jeanmonnot by the line. It’s easy to forget but this is only her second ever podium on the World Cup.
Franziska Preuss continued her march towards the Overall title with third place. Again she was perfect on the shooting range but in the end came home 16.7 seconds behind the Frenchwoman. She is having an incredible season and hopefully we will see another great fight between these three in the Pursuit.
Hits
Dorothea Wierer had a brilliant race in 4th. One mistake at the range cost her a podium in the end but her skiing is back to what we expect from her and this is her second 4th place in a row. In the absence of Lisa Vittozzi it’s great to see an Italian woman doing well here. Actually the Italians did pretty well overall with all six qualifying for the Pursuit.
There was some good shooting in the calm conditions with perfect 10’s from 14 women including all three podium finishers.
Misses
Elvira Oberg is not racing in Antholz this weekend as she has a cold and doesn’t want to risk her participation in the World Championships. It’s a good decision for her but it is a shame for the Overall title race.
It wasn’t a good day for Suvi Minkkinen after having a stellar season so far she finished down in 69th and so won’t race the Pursuit. Anna Gandler and Baiba Bendika didn’t make it either.
Extra bullets
Ingrid Tandrevold returned to racing after skipping Ruhpolding. It’s been a crazy season already for her and today the harness on her rifle broke so she had to hold it on her back coming into the standing shoot! Somehow she still managed to shot 4/5 and then finished the race with the spare rifle coming home 23rd.
Today’s Sprint results see no changes in the bib wearers. Franzi keeps yellow and red and Jeanne Richard stays in blue. Lou did make up 30 points in the Overall but is still 117 points behind.
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