Biathlon

Oberthaler sprints to the podium in home race

Sharpshooter: Kristina Oberthaler.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Strong start for Austria's biathlon ladies at the home IBU Cup in Obertilliach. Kristina Oberthaler from Salzburg makes no mistakes in the sprint and finishes in third place. Fredrik Mühlbacher is the best ÖSV athlete in the men's event, a protégé of legendary coach Alfred Eder makes it into the top three.

The IBU Cup, the "second league" in biathlon, is entering the home straight with the races in Obertilliach.

A total of twelve competitions will be held this week and next week, starting with the sprint races in East Tyrol on Thursday. The Austrian ladies managed a place on the podium.

Kristina Oberthaler from Salzburg was responsible for this. The Pongau native made no mistakes at the shooting range and recorded the eleventh fastest time. The cumulative result was third place - also Oberthaler's first podium finish.

"Of course, it's mega cool to achieve this at home of all places. I haven't felt so good in the last few days, but today was a really great race for me from start to finish. Our service people did a tremendous job and I think this was my best ski of the season. Everything just came together," explained the 25-year-old.

Eder protégé on the podium
She was 40.4 seconds behind winner Ragnhild Femsteinevik (NOR/0 faults). Second place went to France's Oceane Michelon (1/+14.4). Julia Schwaiger (HSV Saalfelden) finished in 25th place with two misses, Lisa Osl was 39th with four penalties.

In the men's event, Mats Överby led a Norwegian quintuple victory. Sindre Jorde (2 faults/+39.9), coached by legendary coach Alfred Eder, followed in second place. The best Austrian was Fredrik Mühlbacher (2/+1:46.2), competing for HSV Saalfelden.

The other Austrians: 24th Maximilian Prosser, 30th Andreas Hechenberger, 36th Sebastian Trixl. The competitions will continue on Saturday with the pursuit races.