Hung out in single mixed
DSV duo struggles after missing out on a World Cup medal
February 15, 2024, 8:37 p.m
Until the last shooting, the World Cup medals are within reach for the German biathlon duo, but then three spare rounds end the faint hope of Vanessa Voigt and Justus Strelow. The title in the single mixed relay goes to France.
Vanessa Voigt quickly left the finish area with her head hanging down, and Justus Strelow also had disappointment written all over her face: the German duo clearly missed the medal they had hoped for in the single mixed relay of the Biathlon World Championships in Nove Mesto. Starting with great ambitions, the DSV team only took sixth place – and once again struggled with their performance on the cross-country ski trail.
“I had an extremely difficult time running,” said Strelow on the ZDF microphone after the race. His partner Voigt was also not satisfied; the duo had missed the boat. “We wanted to fight for the medals.” After silver for Janina Hettich-Walz and bronze for Benedikt Doll, Germany’s series of medals in the Czech Republic ended. “It’s single-mixed, everything happens so quickly. But we can still be proud of ourselves,” said Voigt.
Other teams were allowed to celebrate that day. Gold went to the French Quentin Fillon Maillet and Lou Jeanmonnot (0 penalties + 3 spares), who finished ahead of Italy’s Tommaso Giacomel and Lisa Vittozzi (0+5) and the favored Norwegians Johannes Thingnes Bö and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold (1+7). enforced. “There was no chance of keeping up,” Voigt admitted honestly. He and Voigt won the single mixed doubles at the World Cup dress rehearsal in Antholz. For the mission medal, Strelow even got eight days off from racing in Nove Mesto.
France and Norway are faster on the cross-country ski trail
The 28 nations, including teams from Greece and Australia, took to the cross-country ski trail in light fog and temperatures above zero. Strelow started with a faultless rapid-fire series, but a small stumble cost him the lead. He needed a spare while standing; when he first switched to Voigt, Germany was still waiting.
The Thuringian presented herself confidently in her first two appearances at the shooting range, but on the course she lost a few seconds to the leading nations France and Norway. At halftime everything pointed to a duel for bronze. Strelow then kept his nerve and sent Voigt onto the trail without another reload. However, the 26-year-old was no longer able to continue the strong performance of the German team at the shooting range; at the latest after the three spare rounds in the last shooting, the medal train had left.
After the rest day on Friday, we continue on Saturday in Nove Mesto. The respective relays for women (1.45 p.m.) and men (4.30 p.m./all ZDF and Eurosport) are on the program. The respective mass starts conclude the World Cup in the Czech Republic on Sunday.