Norway takes the relay ball – Azzurre beats

In the last women's relay of the season, the team from Norway led by Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold secured the day's victory and at the same time the relay crystal ball. Meanwhile, the Azzurre around Hannah Auchentaller remained pale.

March 09, 2024

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Norway, Sweden or France? That was the question in the women's relay in Soldier Hollow (USA) on Saturday evening. The starting situation before the race was incredibly close, as these three nations were almost equal in the overall relay rankings before this last competition (Norway 286 points, France 285 and Sweden 285). This meant: Whoever is fastest in the North American snow can celebrate victory. As is so often the case in biathlon, it was Norway who showed no nerves at all in the 4 x 6 kilometers and took the relay crystal ball with the day's victory. Germany and Sweden completed the podium. The Azzurre around Hannah Auchentaller were unable to take part in the fight for a top position.

Flawless. This is how the idea of Norwegian women can be described. Juni Arnekleiv, Ida Lien, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold and Karoline Offigstad Knotten left no doubt about a triumph in the North American snow. Led by overall World Cup leader Tandrevold, the Scandinavians only used five spares and also showed absolute top performance on the cross-country ski trail. They won the relay ahead of strong German athletes (+17,2 seconds) and a Swede (+42,0), who, led by the Öberg sisters, took third place on the podium. The crystal ball for the relay rankings also belongs to the Norwegians

Justine Braisaz-Bouchet had a bad day. © APA/afp / ISAAC HALE

And France? That showed a lot of nerves in the middle of the fight for the relay ball. Of all people, the otherwise outstanding Justine Braisaz-Bouchet had a terrible day and had to go into the penalty loop after four missed attempts while standing. Her teammate Jeanne Richard copied this faux pass a little later and France had to say goodbye to the race and the crystal ball early.

Auchentaller and Co. with little chance

The Azzurre, in the absence of Lisa Vittozzi and of course Dorothea Wierer, lost all hope of a successful race at the latest when Hannah Auchentaller stood. The Antholz native initially fired three shots off the target and had to reload, then left another target and lost contact with the top nations in the penalty loop. In the end, Samuela Comola, Auchentaller, Michaela Carrara and Beatrice Trabucchi only managed 9th place (+2.31,6:XNUMX minutes).