Austria was 3.3 seconds off the podium, Norway won.
Oberhof. In the end, final runner Simon Eder came very close to the podium at the start of the Biathlon World Championships in the mixed relay. This was due to a lapse by Frenchman Quentin Fillon Maillet, who instead of crossing the finish line first turned into the wrong lane and following the U-turn saved just 3.3 seconds ahead of Austria and thus saved bronze over the line.
“The audience screamed a little too loudly,” Eder commented humorously on the strange scene. The outcome did not change anything regarding his highly satisfied balance sheet. “It was a great race, a few meters were missing. We are mega happy with fourth place. You can’t always measure it by medals, that’s a huge result for us and a great start,” said the 39-year-old.
Unlike two years ago with silver, it wasn’t enough for a mixed medal, but Dunja Zdouc, Lisa Hauser, David Komatz (one spare each) and Eder (none) convinced with the best shooting performance in the field. In addition, Hauser made a strong impression in terms of running before the first individual start in the sprint on Friday.
Norway’s first World Cup gold was secured by Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, Marte Olsbu Røiseland, Sturla Holm Laegreid and Johannes Thingnes Bø ahead of Italy (+11.6 seconds) and France (+55.9). Season dominator Bø made mistakes and left the last stand synchronously with Tommasso Giacomel, but the Norwegian showed his great class on the cross-country ski run. (red.)
