The Tyrolean triumphed in Kontiolahti a few days after the mediocre individual start as 32nd in the sprint without missing a shot and with a strong mileage. The 28-year-old won 17.3 seconds ahead of Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi (1 penalty) and 24.2 ahead of Sweden’s Linn Persson (0), which could put her first to strike again in Sunday’s pursuit.
The sprint success of the Olympic fourth-placed also comes as a surprise because she was slowed down by illnesses in the pre-season. That’s why she hadn’t thought she was in top form recently and was accordingly overwhelmed. “I’m very happy, it’s very emotional for me. I didn’t expect that because of the problems in the summer. But now I’m back here with a win in the sprint, that’s really great,” said Hauser, who had the ninth best time had succeeded.
Last year she had won the sprint at the season opener in Östersund and then traveled to Hochfilzen as the overall leader for her home World Cup. Before the last race in Finland and next week’s competitions in Tyrol, she moved up to fourth place overall.
Her ÖSV teammates, like the entire men’s team, ended up well outside the top 30 in the sprint. Julia Schwaiger was second best after a penalty loop in 42nd place. Otherwise only Dunja Zdouc (48th) made it into the pursuit of the top 60. The men cut after that fourth place in the relay also finished poorly in the second individual race. David Komatz was 39th with a penalty loop. Felix Leitner (44th), Harald Lemmerer (45th) and Simon Eder (47th) were more than two minutes behind the winner Johannes Thingnes Bö.
Despite a penalty loop, Olympic champion Bö prevailed ahead of his faultless Norwegian compatriot Sturla Holm Laegreid (+10.5 seconds). The German Roman Rees surprised in third place (+28.8) without a penalty loop. For the 29-year-old Bö, it was his 56th individual success, including the Olympics and World Championships, which also saw him slip into the World Cup leader’s jersey.
Source: Nachrichten
