Started strong, slowed down strongly, finished strongly – the German mixed relay team missed out on a medal at the start of the Biathlon World Championships. The French team around Éric Perrot, Quentin Fillon Maillet, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Julia Simon secured victory in the first race of the season’s highlight in the Czech Republic on Wednesday evening ahead of Norway and Sweden. The German quartet was even on track for gold until halfway through the race. In the end it came fifth because Franziska Preuß experienced a disaster at the shooting range.
The 29-year-old had started the World Cup optimistically after good performances this season, but after she had already used up all three reloading cartridges while standing, she had to run a penalty lap and fell behind. “This is extremely bitter. “I’m very disappointed in myself,” she said after the race, fighting back tears. Based on the advance work of her colleagues, “there really was something in it,” she added. “I have to put this shoe on now.”
Starting runner Justus Strelow got off to a perfect start in the title fights with two quick and error-free shooting sessions and handed over to Philipp Nawrath in second place behind the Frenchman Éric Perrot. The Bavarian needed all three reloading cartridges for five hits in the standing stage, but he made up time on the run and was the first to reach the transition zone, where Franziska Preuß was waiting for him.
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Final runner Vanessa Voigt was able to secure fifth place with a flawless shooting performance, but the disappointment in the German team prevailed: “In biathlon it always goes up and down, it’s a shame that Franzi got it like that today,” said Justus Strelow later. But he was satisfied with his performance: “It worked out exactly as I imagined. Now I’m looking forward to the next races.”
