Norway Wins: Czechs Struggle in Biathlon Showdown

The track in the area near the town of Annecy in the Savoie Alps froze over overnight, the turns in the downhills thus carried an increased level of risk. Experienced Italian Lisa Vittozzi did not enter the race, as she did not feel physically fit.

It was possible to fight for the highest places with a maximum of one shooting error, which was a balance that the Czech representatives were far from.

Voborníková managed the opening half of the race excellently, when she left the second event in sixth place. But the 25-year-old native of Vrchlabí started the first shooting standing with two mistakes and left the top ten, adding another mistake on the last item.

“I’m sorry for the mistakes on the stand. But I’m happy that I’m leaving for Christmas with three places in the top 20, which is great for me. I showed myself that it’s possible, I’m glad that I did well that weekend, and in January I’ll hopefully continue on that wave. Now I’m looking forward to going home to my family,” said Voborníková, who is planning to train in Pokljuka with her friend Mikuláš Karlík during the holidays.

Charvátová repeated her unhappy record from Saturday’s fighter, in which she also had to go through six penalty rounds. She was also let down by her standing shooting, where she scored a total of five fouls and took 26th place.

The worst of all thirty participants in the race was Markéta Davidová, who continues to struggle with her shooting. Just like on Saturday, the world champion had to go through three penalty rounds after one of the events, this time lying down. The thirtieth was the last to reach the finish line. “Even though I was ashamed, I have something to think about anyway,” she thought.

The best were decided in the last meters. Camille Benedová was the first domestic player to go into the final round with a lead of fourteen seconds, who was the only one to hit all twenty targets. But she ran out of strength and did not fit on the podium.

The 22-year-old Kirkeeid was just three tenths ahead of World Cup leader Lou Jeanmonnot, the other Frenchwoman Justine Braisaz-Bouchet was another half second behind.