The German DSV duo is on the podium on the Pokljuka, but is then passed on at the final round.
The podest series of German biathletes in single mixed is torn at the World Cup on the Pokljuka – in a dramatic manner.
In the absence of the overall World Cup, Franziska Preuß were Selina Grotian and Justus Strelow at the victory of Switzerland (7 afterladders) for a long time on the podium course, but ultimately only took sixth place after Strelow went out (eight aftert loaders/+23.3 seconds).
Strelow goes out
The result was “frustrating,” said Strelow at the ZDF microphone after he had fallen back in the final round of second place: “I was very far back in the first round, had to invest a lot of strength. There wasn’t much there anymore. “
However, DSV sports director Felix Bitterling later revealed that there was another explanation for Strelow’s waste: “You have to say to be rescue that we were not quite there with the material today,” said Bitterling on ZDF that Strelow also “assumed the grains”.
Preuss gets a break
Grotian started the race with major problems. Lying and standing, she made three reliefs, but at least prevented the penalty round. Nevertheless, Strelow, who is always set as the best shooter of the team in the shooting single mixed, went into the cross -country ski run with a gap of 30 seconds. After two flawless series, Germany was back close to the podium at halftime.
During her second appearance, Grotian was shaky again at the shooting range, needed two more afterlades. In contrast, Strelow with two outstanding performances remained without errors and went to the last round in position. There the 28-year-old was passed through the competition.
Previously, the DSV team had ranked third in this racing format both as part of the World Cups in KontiaLahti and Oberhof as well as at the World Championships in Lenzerheide.
Even “big” mixed ends disappointing
Even in the “big” mixed, there was no hoped for in the late afternoon: The quartet Julia Tannheimer, Sophia Schneider, Danilo Riethmüller and Philipp Nawrath also took 6th place in the last season competition of winter – especially because Schneider at the shooting range was once again weak.
“That wasn’t what we imagined,” Bitterling had to state. Germany finished the Mixed World Cup (mixed and single mixed) in 4th place behind Sweden, France and Norway.
German number one Prussia did not start with the seasons in Slovenia, for the duel around the yellow jersey against the French woman Lou JeanMonnot, she received a break. From Friday, a sprint, persecution and the final mass start are on the program on the legendary wooden spar, the German is only 20 points ahead of her competitor.