Women's mass start goes to Belarusian Darya Domracheva

Last year Domracheva won World Championship silver in the mass start, and today she once again proved her class in this discipline in Antholz, even though she missed two targets in the first shooting. But then she remained flawless at the shooting range and won with a lead of 25,2 seconds over Kuzmina and 32,1 over Neuner. Both made mistakes in the last standing shooting: Kuzmina missed one target, Neuner even missed two and thus gave away her 30th World Cup victory. Domracheva celebrated her first victory in Antholz today, after a second place in the 2009 sprint and three third places in the 2009 pursuit, the 2010 mass start and last Thursday's sprint race.

In the World Cup standings, Domracheva reduced her gap to leader Magdalena Neuner to 57 points. Third is Finland's Mäkäräinen, who missed five times today but still came in eleventh. Norwegian Tora Berger is fourth. She also came fourth in today's mass start, ahead of Svetlana Sleptsova, Vita Semerenko and Olga Zaitseva. In the discipline ranking, however, Neuner leads ahead of Berger and Domracheva.

The race was disappointing for the local biathletes. Michela Ponza from Val Gardena came 22nd with one shooting error, 2.30,0 minutes behind, Katja Haller from Ridnaun 29th (+3.45,9/1).

Results list 12,5 km mass start women - Antholz (January 22, 2012)

1. Darya Domracheva (BLR) 35.03,6 (2 errors at the shooting range) 2. Anastasiya Kuzmina (SVK) +25,2 (1) 3. Magdalena Neuner (GER) +32,1 (2) 4. Tora Berger (NOR) +53,1 (3) 5. Svetlana Sleptsova (RUS) +55,7 (2) 6. Vita Semerenko (UKR) +56,5 (2) 7. Olga Zaitseva (RUS) +59,9 (2) 8. Helena Ekholm (SWE) +1.00,8 (1) 9. Marie Habert Dorin (FRA) +1.09,2 (1) 10. Teja Gregorin (SLO) +1.21,2 (1) 11. Kaisa Mäkäräinen (FIN) +1.36,3 (5)

22. Michela Ponza (St. Christina/ITA) +2:30,0 (1) 29. Katja Haller (Ridnaun/ITA) +3.45,9 (1)

Voters to race

Darya Domracheva (Belarus), winner: It was a very hard piece of work for me today because after the first shooting I was only in 26th place with two penalties. If I start badly, it seems as if I'm almost more motivated afterwards. I always particularly enjoy running in Antholz. The route also suits my technique. I haven't spoken to my coach yet; it was too hectic for that after the race. But he hugged me and I could tell from his eyes that he was very happy.

Anastasiya Kuzmina (Slovakia), second place: I've been working intensively on shooting with Juraj Sanitra over the past week and as you can see, it paid off immediately. That's why I'm extremely grateful to him. He is not only a great trainer, but also my psychologist. But I would also like to thank everyone who has supported me in recent times. Today was a tough race and a test of my form. Darya and Magdalena are very strong on the trail and I'm glad I had the opportunity to fight with them here.

Magdalena Neuner (Germany), third place: I shot great three times today and made two mistakes on the last one. It can happen. I see more of the overall result, and I'm quite happy with that. I knew it would be brutally difficult and that's why I had to manage my strength well. The season so far is definitely the best in my career. In terms of running I'm doing quite well anyway and I'm also much more confident at the shooting range. I really enjoyed the last race of my career in Antholz. Memories of 2007 came back to me, when my career began with the three World Cup titles. It's amazing how you're being cheered on as a German athlete here and how people are shouting at you on the climb. I think that I gave myself a nice farewell present with third place and that it was a great end here in South Tyrol.

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Women's mass start goes to Belarusian Darya Domracheva

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