Biathlon sprint

Preuß jubilant in Hochfilzen, ÖSV athletes behind

Franziska Preuß takes the sprint victory in Hochfilzen.

(Bild: AP ( via APA) Austria Presse Agentur/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The Austrian biathletes clearly missed out on a top place at the start of the home World Cup in Hochfilzen. After Germany's Franziska Preuß won the 7.5 km sprint on Friday, 21-year-old World Cup debutant Anna Andexer was the best ÖSV athlete with a flawless shooting and 25th place. Anna Gandler (27th) and former World Champion Lisa Hauser (34th) were close behind. Norway's Johannes Thingnes Bö triumphed in the men's race.

Preuß, who was back on the top step of the podium for the first time in 2,154 days, won in dream weather ahead of France's Sophie Chauveau (0/+7.7 sec.) and Karoline Knotten (0/+10.1) from Norway. Andexer was, of course, overjoyed. "I didn't think I could do it like that. I was so nervous. I can't quite believe it yet, it's mega," said the 21-year-old from Saalfelden in Salzburg on ORF. Elvira Öberg from Sweden, three times on the podium at the start of the season in Kontiolahti, finished in 25th place after four penalty loops, the same time as Andexer.

Lurking position in pursuit
The ÖSV trio is thus in the lurking position in the 10 km pursuit on Saturday (12.15 pm). Andexer goes into the race 1:07.6 minutes behind. Gandler, who missed the last shot in the sprint, was 1:09.3 minutes behind in the end. Hauser was 1:17.0 minutes behind after two penalty rounds after prone shooting. "Thank God I managed the zero in the standing position, otherwise it would have been a miserable race. I'm a bit sad, it's not that easy there," said Hauser.

Anna Andexer

(Bild: Kronen Zeitung/Christof Birbaumer)

Eder with a strong start lap
In the men's 10 km sprint, Bö celebrated his first win of the season despite a penalty. His penalty-free compatriot Sturla Holm Lägreid (+4.2 sec.) finished second, the podium was completed by Frenchman Fabien Claude (0/+6.8) just ahead of Endre Strömsheim (0/+7.4), another Norwegian.

(Bild: APA/AFP)

ÖSV hopeful Simon Eder (1/+1:36.6 min.) finished 35th with one miss in the standing stage, Felix Leitner was 42nd (1/+1:52.8) and narrowly missed out on World Cup points. David Komatz (2/+2:31.8) just failed to make it into the top 60 and is therefore not allowed to start in the 12.5 km pursuit on Saturday (14:45).

At his 55th World Cup start in Tyrol, Eder took the opportunity on the first lap to follow in the slipstream of the strong Norwegian skier Martin Uldal (7th). With a fast and flawless prone shooting, the 41-year-old was even in fifth place at one point. "I got a good chance there. The tactic worked a few times, but then you have to shoot a zero," said Eder, who lamented the dull snow and degrading material.

At the end of the World Cup weekend in Hochfilzen, the women's and men's relay races are on the program on Sunday.