You'd think Vanessa Hinz just waited until the season's peak to deliver her best performance to the point.
Just five weeks after the biathlete from Schliersee had secured the norm of the German Ski Association (DSV) for the 2020 World Championships in Antholz (Italy) at the World Cup in Oberhof, she celebrated fifth place in the World Cup pursuit yesterday afternoon.
"I definitely didn't save that," says Hinz, laughing. A little later, Arnd Peiffer (WSV Clausthal-Zellerfeld), who lives in Holzkirchen, did the same and also finished fifth.
Arnd Peiffer from Holzkirchen performed well in the men.
© Peter Kornatz
"A huge thing! Vanessa Hinz! “, The stadium spokesman Stefan Steinacher roared into the microphone when the SC Schliersee biathlete crossed the finish line completely exhausted. The strength for a big cheer gesture was missing after the brilliant performance. The cheers and the sea of German flags from thousands of fans in the stadium and on the track were accordingly frenetic. Hinz: "I'm really happy with the race."
With a flawless insert in the first prone stroke, the 27-year-old took advantage of the good starting position from the sprint on Friday and established herself in the chasing group from the start. Hinz afforded a little wobble in the second prone stage, which earned her a penalty loop. So she slipped back to twelfth place in the meantime.
At this point a good result was already in the luggage, the Schlierseerin had two more five shots in her wobble discipline, the standing shooting, before. "I didn't actually have that in my head anymore, but concentrated fully on my cause." Hinz succeeded. She remained calm and flawless twice.
With one or two more mistakes made by the competition, the pursuit competition would even have given them the first medal in a major event. In the end, the winning trio Dorothea Wierer (Italy), Denise Herrmann (WSC Erzgebirge Oberwiesenthal) and Marte Olsbu Roeiseland (Norway) could not be beat.
On the final round, Hinz then fought for fourth place with Hanna Öberg, which the Swede won. "I briefly tried to keep up with her," Hinz says of the final round. "But in any case, I definitely regained confidence."
Arnd Peiffer was the best German with his fifth place this afternoon. He only had to put up with a penalty lap in the first prone stroke and from then on showed a really strong performance. Since the competition did not allow themselves any blunders, Peiffer had nothing to do with the medal decision.
The athletes have a break today. Tomorrow's Tuesday will continue with the women's singles. The men follow on Wednesday.
