What a force: Tommaso Giacomel. © Teyssot / Pierre TEYSSOT

Incredible Giacomel storms onto the Antholz podium

What was that? Tommaso Giacomel stormed onto the podium with an incredible performance in the men's sprint in Antholz.

24 January 2025

From the South Tyrol Arena in Antholz

This Tommaso Giacomel is in top form: After his first victory on Sunday in Ruhpolding, the Trentino native followed up with another podium finish five days later in Antholz. For Giacomel, it is the first individual podium finish at the World Cup in Pustertal. The third-placed Italian was just 2,6 seconds away from his second victory in the biathlon elite class.

Giacomel thus secured Italy's only two podium places this biathlon winter. The 24-year-old, who was born in Sterzing and attended high school in Mals, missed his target once in both the prone and standing shooting on Friday, but was in a class of his own on the cross-country course.

After Antholz premiere: Bø resigns

The victory went to Tarjei Bø. The older of the two brothers won by 0,4 seconds ahead of his fellow Norwegian Sturla Holm Lægreid. The 36-year-old Bø, who remained faultless, triumphed for the first time ever in Antholz. After the victory, Bø announced his retirement in tears. His brother Johannes Thingnes, who like Giacomel missed twice, had to settle for 9th place.

The Azzurri were consistently strong on Friday in bright sunshine and in front of over 10.000 spectators on their skis. The only South Tyrolean, Lukas Hofer, ended up in 29th place with three mistakes. The World Cup in Antholz continues on Saturday with the women's pursuit (13 p.m.) and the men's relay (14.55:XNUMX p.m.).