Biathlon

Sharpshooter Lienbacher performs at the final

Best shooter in the final competition: Oliver Lienbacher.(Bild: Reiko Kolatsk)

The 2023/24 IBU Cup season came to an end on Saturday with the mass start competitions in Obertilliach. While the French dominated the women's event, the Norwegians once again came out on top in the men's event. Oliver Lienbacher, an Austrian, also caused a sensation.

Out! Over! Gone!

While the World Cup biathletes are still in action overseas, the IBU Cup season has been over since Saturday afternoon. Two mass start 60 competitions in Obertilliach brought the winter to a close.

As usual, the Norwegians dominated the men's race. Sverre Aspenes led a quintuple victory for the Vikings, with Martin Uldal and Martin Nevland also making it onto the podium.

The best Austrian was Oliver Lienbacher from Salzburg. The 21-year-old was the only one (!) in the 60-strong field to remain penalty-free and finished 15th in his first week in the second biathlon league in the extended top field.

Lienbacher: "Very, very cool!"
"I shot zero four times for the first time," said the Pinzgau native with satisfaction at the finish. "That's very, very cool!" Only the running performance wasn't quite to his taste.

"In terms of running, I'm not quite there anymore. It was brutal, I was standing on the final lap." The tall cross-country skier was not necessarily at an advantage in the deep snow conditions.

With Fabian Müllauer in 25th place and Fredrik Mühlbacher in 37th, two other athletes from HSV Saalfelden finished in the points. The other Austrians: 42nd Max Prosser, 55th Andreas Hechenberger.

The prize for the loudest fans went to the "Fanclub Speedy Gonzales", who supported Anna Andexer and the other Austrians.(Bild: Expa Pictures)

Anaelle Bondoux won the women's race ahead of her French compatriot Oceane Michelon, with third place going to Germany's Emily Schumann.

The best Austrian was Anna Andexer from SK Saalfelden in 22nd place, followed immediately by Lisa Osl from Tyrol. Also: 34th Kristina Oberthaler, 40th Wilma Anhaus, 44th Julia Schwaiger.