There were no German winners at the Biathlon World Cup. The most successful German ski hunter in Antholz was one who didn't break the norm. The big winners came from Norway, France and Italy. The big loser is a Russian.
Antholz (dpa) - Medals were awarded in twelve competitions at the Biathlon World Championships in Antholz. With six gold, the Norwegians in Italy were the most successful nation before the French, who celebrated three world titles.
The German team came fifth in the South Tyrol Arena with four silver and one bronze medal.
WINNER
MARTE OLSBU RÖISELAND: The Norwegian is the clearer of the World Cup and the most successful of the entire starter field. With five gold and two bronze medals, she wins a medal in all seven World Cup races - it has never been done before. "Now I could actually resign, but of course I won't do that. It was a fantastic World Cup that I never expected," said the 29-year-old.
DOROTHEA WIERER: She was born not far from the World Cup arena, the star in the Italian team. And the glamor girl withstood the pressure on her home routes. Wierer wins gold in the pursuit and in the individual. The 29-year-old had actually announced before the season that she would stop after this season. But it remains open whether this really happens. Her manager thinks she's definitely going to continue.
MARTIN FOURCADE: France's star is back. After the seven-time World Cup overall winner in the pre-season against the Norwegian Johannes Thingnes Bö had no chance and went through a difficult time, he is now at the top again. Fourcade is again concentrating more on biathlon, and the negative experiences made him more humble - he shows himself more than ever as a team player. The man in the yellow jersey finishes the World Cup with two gold and one bronze. Even though his rival Bö won three gold and three silver, the titles at Fourcade weren't exactly expected.
ERIK LESSER: After a difficult season, the seasoned athlete does not reach the World Cup standard - and is nevertheless nominated. After the 31-year-old won silver in the single mixed with Franziska Preuß and performed convincingly, national coach Mark Kirchner also set him up for the season. Lesser delivers again and is happy about bronze in the end. After a really messed up season, the Thuringian is going home with two World Cup medals.
GERMAN SURPRISES
VANESSA HINZ: The 27-year-old provides one of the big World Cup surprises with single silver. "A dream came true for me," she says. "Now I'm looking forward to at home, to my grandma, to my aunt. They have already chilled the sparkling wine, then we can celebrate a little more."
PHILIPP HORN: Arrived as a World Cup debutant, the 25-year-old performed well. After eighth place in the sprint, he cannot follow up in the pursuit and in the individual. But the season is about to begin. In a direct duel with France's superstar Martin Fourcade, the Thuringian is not impressed and even changes first - in the end, Horn cheers for bronze.
LOSER
ALEXANDER LOGINOW: The Russian wins his first major title with gold in the sprint. But the 28-year-old, who was banned for two years until 2016 due to epo doping, is booed by the fans. There is also a raid in his hotel room a few hours before the men's relay. Loginow, who says he is clean, stays cool and delivers a strong race. He then refrains from starting in the mass start final - for psychological reasons.
BENEDIKT DOLL: The Black Forest travels as a medal candidate - but the 29-year-old does not get along with his rifle in the South Tyrol Arena. Already disappointing in the individual races, Doll not only awards the possible world title in the relay with a penalty loop on the last shooting, but also silver - at least bronze is enough for the German team. "I'm not going to take the rifle in my hands until Friday," Doll says after his last four World Cup penalties in the mass start and admits: "I had more plans."
TIRIL ECKHOFF: The happy Norwegian nature dominated the World Cup with six victories before the World Cup - and then collapses completely in the title fights. 15th, 21st and 59th in the races - completely unsettled, Eckhoff meets almost nothing. She loses the yellow jersey, but at least there is gold in the women's and mixed relay. But the 29-year-old definitely wanted more.
LISA VITOZZI: The 25-year-old wanted to get a medal at the home World Cup. But shortly before the start she surprised with sharp criticism of her teammate Dorothea Wierer - "Zickenkrieg" is the headline of the local press. The sensitive Vittozzi takes it so much that she was sixth in the sprint, but only 27th, 71st and then last in the mass start. At least in the mixed relay, she wins silver.
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Short biographies of the German biathletes
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Information about the German biathlon team
