Herrmann doubles up for 2nd biathlon World Cup

The former German cross-country skier Denise Herrmann picked up her second biathlon World Cup win yesterday by holding off Justine Braisaz in the women’s pursuit in Ostersund.
Herrmann, in only her second biathlon season after moving over from cross country skiing, won Friday’s sprint to start first in the 10-kilometre pursuit at the Swedish resort. She took victory in 30 minutes 2.7 seconds despite two misses in her third of four visits to the range.
Those penalty laps briefly handed the lead to the clean shooting Frenchwoman Braisanz but Herrmann fought back to be within touching distance leaving the final shooting and was unstoppable in racing home.
“That I was able to be first over the line is unbelievable,” Herrmann told broadcaster ZDF. “I have never had such a feeling, it’s wonderful.”
Herrmann, given her relative lack of shooting experience, had not expected to challenge for the podium given four trips to the range, rather than two in the sprint.
Braisanz finished 25.8 seconds behind and Norway’s Marte Olsbu took third, 48 seconds adrift having also missed twice.
Braisanz leads the overall World Cup standings on 142 points with Herrmann on 138. German reigning champion Laura Dahlmeier skipped the Ostersund meet due to illnes.
On the men’s side, six-time World Cup champion Martin Fourcade took his first victory of the season in the 12.5km pursuit.
The Frenchman missed once en route to a convincing win in 30:12.2 minutes, more than 40 seconds clear of Slovenia’s Jakov Fak, who missed twice. Another French athlete, Quentin Fillon Maillet, was third.
Tarjei Boe had started first having won the sprint but was never in contention for another success as Fourcade extended his standings lead to 31 points over Fillon Maillet having finished in the top three in the earlier Ostersund races.
“I am very satisfied because despite my two podiums here, I felt that if I had not won here, it would have been my worst season opener, since for 7 years in a row I won here,” Fourcade said. “Now I can be very calm and relaxed for the next competitions.” The next series of World Cups takes place in Hochfilzen, Austria, from Friday.