Silver start! Italy's biathletes are in World Cup form

Two years ago at the World Cup on Pokljuka, Italy had to return home without a medal. Such a scenario was averted on the first day this year in Oberhof. The mixed relay team of Lisa Vittozzi, Dorothea Wierer, Didier Bionaz and Tommaso Giacomel won silver in the Thuringian Forest on Wednesday.

This is confirmation of an outstanding season for the Azzurri so far with 13 podium places in the World Cup. Wierer was once again in the middle of it all. The 32-year-old South Tyrolean won her third World Cup medal in a mixed relay and her second silver in Oberhof.

Dorothea Wierer (left) handing over to Didier Bionaz. © APA/afp / TOBIAS SCHWARZ

Starting runner Vittozzi did an excellent job. The Azzurra, which had regained its strength this winter, only had to reload once and also performed well in terms of running. So Vittozzi handed over to Wierer in second place. Ten seconds earlier, the Frenchwoman Julia Simon had handed over to Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet. Wierer, who like Vittozzi only had to reload once, followed suit with her teammate. The woman from Niederrasn overtook Chevalier-Bouchet and gave Italy the half-time lead when she switched to Didier Bionaz.

Bø too good Bionaz also mastered his task in the East German cauldron with flying colors (he had to reload a total of two times). The young Aosta native kept Italy in the top group and handed over to Tommaso Giacomel in third place. The Trentino native shared the performance of his teammates. With a total of just one spare, he even made up time on Johannes Thingnes Bø and started the final lap together with the Norwegian superstar.

Johannes Thingnes Bø led Norway to gold. In the background, Tommaso Giacomel is approaching the home stretch. © ANSA / RONALD WITTEK

In the last lap, Giacomel could no longer keep up with Bø's incredible pace. The high flyer led Norway (Tandrevold, Roeiseland, Lægreid, J. Bø) to gold. Eleven seconds later, Giacomel crossed the finish line and secured a dominant silver medal for Italy. Third-placed France (Simon, Chevarlier-Bouchet, Jacquelin, Fillon Maillet) was almost a minute behind at the finish - also because Fillon Maillet got lost on the final lap.

Wierer & Co. have their next chance to win a medal on Friday. Then the women's sprint is on the program for the title fights in the Thuringian Forest from 14.30 p.m.

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Silver start! Italy's biathletes are in World Cup form

Italy's biathletes delivered a brilliant performance at the start of the World Championships in Oberhof. In the mixed relay, Dorothea Wierer & Co. took the silver medal.

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