Another fantastic biathlon day in Germany saw the women take to the tracks for the relay.
Results
It was the home team who took an impressive win today! Germany have a relatively inexperienced team at this level but that hasn’t stopped them winning two relays in a row and their first in Ruhpolding since 2018.
Stefanie Scherer, Selina Grotian and Sophia Schneider kept Germany in contention on every leg before leaving Franziska Preuss in third place starting the final leg. It was a shooting master class from Preuss who swept past Sweden and Norway on the range with 10/10 under incredible pressure from the cauldron of noise from the home crowd which greeted her every shot. The team used 4 spares only to send the German fans home happy.
Norway were excellent in second place. With no Ingrid Tandrevold all the women stepped up with great performances led off by Karoline Knotten followed by Juni Arnekliev who looks back in form, then to Maren Kirkeeide who left Ragnhild Femsteinevik in second place going into the last leg. She showed great composure up against Elvira Oberg and Preuss to clinch second spot.
France were third with an almighty comeback! After Paula Botet went on the penalty loop after her prone shoot on the first leg the team were last! Oceane Michelon took them up to 10th, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet to 5th and then Julia Simon finished in third place! They were lucky that the penalty was very early so had plenty of time to comeback into the race but it’s still pretty remarkable what they did.
Hits
There were some standout individuals today for example 19-year-old Estere Volfa exchanging in 6th for Latvia. Suvi Minkkinen was exccellent hitting 10/10 and putting Finland in the lead after her leg. As a team Slovakia had a great race finishing 7th using just 5 spares and Canada were 9th with 6 spares.
Germany were the best shooting team with 4 spares and the best legs of the race went to Karoline Knotten, Selina Grotian, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Julia Simon.
Misses
Elvira Oberg started the final leg in the lead but threw it away with a penalty loop on her prone shoot eventually finishing 5th.
Three teams were lapped and Czechia finished last.
Extra bullets
Today’s results mean that Germany now top the Women’s Relay standings ahead of France and Sweden.
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