Nadine Horchler's fairytale victory in Antholz

Nadine Horchler, 30 years old and from northern Hesse, has never managed to reach the World Cup podium in her long career. In the last women's individual race in the South Tyrol Arena, she was actually only registered as a reserve athlete, but ended up slipping into the starting field at the last minute as a replacement for Franziska Preuß, who was ill. “That was already surprising. I hadn’t planned for this race,” said Horchler. Hardly anyone had noticed their start. Only when the race was well underway did she rush into the spotlight.

She put on a flawless performance at the shooting range and on the final lap left the Czech Gabriela Koukalova, who had won all mass start races so far this season, behind her in an impressive manner. Finally, she crossed the finish line first. Horchler described these moments in the winner's interview as follows: “The stadium shook, I could no longer hear my own heartbeat. I have never experienced something like that. I'm overwhelmed.” Curiosity on the side: Nadine Horchler's best World Cup result to date was two fifth places. She won the sprint and pursuit in 2013 - in Antholz.

At the finish, Koukalova also had to let the overall World Cup leader Laura Dahlmeier pass, who made the German double victory perfect. Dahlmeier was in the lead until the last shooting, but then missed twice.

Runggaldier shines again

Horchler wasn't the only surprise on Saturday afternoon. Alexia Runggaldier followed up her sensational third place in the individual competition with another top ten placement. The South Tyrolean local hero only made one miss and was once again extremely strong on the cross-country ski trail. In the end she achieved sixth place and thus her second best World Cup result.

The other “Azzurre” all remained pale. Dorothea Wierer had four penalties and ended up in 17th place. Federica Sanfilippo didn't get past 29th place after seven misses.

Results Biathlon World Cup in Antholz (ITA):

Mass start 12,5 km, women 1.Nadine Horchler (GER) 36:11,5 minutes (0 missed shots) 2. Laura Dahlmeier (GER) +3,1 (3) 3. Gabriela Koukalova (CZE) +8,0 (2) 4. Kaisa Mäkäräinen (FIN) +13,5 (3) 5. Marie Dorin Habert (FRA) +19,0 (4) 6. Alexia Runggaldier (ITA) +24,1 (1) 7. Anna Magnusson (SWE) +26,4 (1) 8. Vanessa Hinz (GER) +27,4 (2) 9. Kaia Woeien Nicolaisen (NOR) +27,9 (0) 10. Yuliia Dzhima (UKR) +32,0 (3) ... 17. Dorothea Wierer (ITA) +47,5 (4) 29. Federica Sanfilippo (ITA) +3:15,7 (7)

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Nadine Horchler's fairytale victory in Antholz

A German success in the women's mass start race in Antholz is by no means surprising. Even the boldest experts probably didn't think that it wasn't Laura Dahlmeier but Nadine Horchler who would be on the podium.

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