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Denise Herrmann at the shooting range
Photo:
Eibner press photo / EXPA / Adelsberger / imago images / Eibner Europe
The German biathletes ran 0.2 seconds past a podium finish in the second relay race of the winter.
Behind world champions Norway (1: 08: 04.3 hours), France (+24.5 seconds / 0 + 16) and Sweden (1 + 9 / 32.5) came the German quartet after 4x6 kilometers with Maren Hammerschmidt and Franziska Preuß , Janina Hettich and last runner Denise Herrmann in fourth place at the World Cup in Hochfilzen.
The team was 32.7 seconds behind the Norwegians - after a total of nine spares and one penalty loop by Franziska Preuss.
“I was relatively sure that I would be able to do that in the finish sprint.
But my legs didn't want the way I want.
So it wasn't quite enough, "said Herrmann, who lost to Elvira Öberg in the final sprint, on ZDF.
Before that, Hermann came second to the shooting range when prone, but he needed three spare rounds, just as he did for the last shooting.
Preuss also quarreled with her performance: “It was very shaky again.
I'm starting to not understand why it starts over and over again.
It was so difficult to calm down at the shooting range, "said the 26-year-old.
Still flawless in prone, Preuss dropped a target while standing and had to go into the penalty loop - together with Norwegian Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold.
With fourth place, the German team managed to make amends for the bankruptcy a year ago at the World Cup in Tyrol.
Twelve months ago, the DSV athletes ran in twelfth place and had the worst relay result ever for a German team.
At the season opener a week ago in Kontiolathi, Finland, they finished third.
On Sunday (11.45 a.m.; TV: ZDF) the pursuit over 10 kilometers is on the program for women.
As third after the sprint, Preuss has a good starting position.
Icon: The mirror
ngo / dpa / sid
