The German DSV duo is on the podium on the Pokljuka, but is then passed on at the final round.
The podium series of German biathletes in single mixed is torn at the World Cup on the Pokljuka. In the absence of the overall World Cup, Selina Grotian and Justus Strelow only took the sixth place (+23.3 seconds) after eight loading after eight.
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.
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. “
Preuss gets a break
For Grotian and Strelow, after the home game in Oberhof in January it was the second single mixed mission of the winter, at the World Cup in Switzerland, Pruss had replaced the 20-year-old.
In Slovenia, the German number one did not start, for the duel around the yellow jersey against the French Lou JeanMonnot, Preuss 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.
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, however, the 28-year-old was literally passed on by the competition.