The South Tyroleans are slowly gaining momentum

The performance curve of the azure blue biathletes around Dorothea Wierer is pointing upwards. While Wierer narrowly missed the top 10 in the sprint on Saturday, Hannah Auchentaller was able to celebrate a personal highlight.

07 December 2024

From: never

After the disappointing results in the individual race on Wednesday, Dorothea Wierer and Hannah Auchentaller seized their chance just three days later and performed strongly in the individual race over 7,5 kilometers.

Wierer made only one mistake at the shooting range under floodlights and below-zero temperatures in Kontiolahti, Finland. The penalty loop cost the two-time overall World Cup winner a place in the top 5, but in the end it was still enough for a strong 11th place - her best placing in a World Cup sprint since her 4th place in March 2023 in Nove Mesto. In the final reckoning, Wierer was the best Azzurra, 33,2 seconds behind the Czech winner Marketa Davidova.

Auchentaller even managed to avoid a penalty lap in the cold north and not only collected valuable points with her 25th place (+1:01,5 minutes), but also achieved the best sprint result of her young World Cup career. This was previously a 35th place at the World Cup in Soldier Hollow last season. With Michela Carrara (22nd/1)+57,9) and Samuela Comola (36th/1/+1:19,7), the rest of the Azzurre also landed in the points.

Davidova shines – Finn surprises

At the top, Davidova secured her fourth World Cup victory thanks to a flawless performance on the shooting range. She was followed by the Swede Elvira Öberg (2 penalty laps/+8,8 seconds) and, completely surprisingly, the Finn Suvi Minkkinen (0/+11,9), who is on the podium for the first time in her career.

Marketa Davidova achieved a convincing victory. © ANSA / Kimmo Brandt

Öberg had two reasons to be happy on Saturday. The 25-year-old benefited from the slip-up of individual winner Lou Jeanmonnot (17th/2/+49,9) and took the yellow jersey of the overall leader from the Frenchwoman. Öberg leads the ranking with 140 points, Jeanmonnot follows with 114 points. Franziska Preuß (105), Davidova (101) and Minkkinen (96) are already lurking behind her.

The last competitions in Kontiolahti are scheduled for Sunday with the mass starts. The men's race starts at 14.30:17.10 p.m. and the women's race starts at XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.