Biathlon in Lenzerheide: “Fantastic made”: World Cup bronze for Prussia and Strelow

Franziska Preuß trudged to her exhausted team -mate Justus Strelow and put him in her arms at the finish line. By bronze in the single mixed race, the two biathletes were able to look forward to the next medal at the World Championships for the German Ski Association. Only France and Norway were better in Lenzerheide than the duo, which after four releases finished 8.3 seconds behind.

“It was fun, but it hurt a lot and I’m glad that it was rewarded with a medal in the end,” said Strelow. “The final round was hard, but I’m glad that there was still a place on the podium.” The last few meters were “very painful”, emphasized the 28-year-old Sachse, who was intercepted by record world champion Johannes Thingnes Bö from Norway shortly before the end. “The legs were empty. But there are worse things than losing against him in the last few meters.”

Prussian is the most successful medal collector

Overall, it was already the fourth German medal at the highlight of the season in the canton of Graubünden. Prussia and Strelow were already part of the mixed relay, which had bronze at the start. The overall World Cup-leading Preuss also won gold in the chase and silver in the sprint during the previous week. With four medals, she is currently the most successful athlete of the World Cup.

“Every medal is something special. Winning a medal here is not a matter of course because there are so many good teams,” said Preuss. Sports director Felix Bitterling also agreed: “The medal is extremely important. We decided to get better in the mixed and single mixed season a few years ago. The two did that fantastic.”

Strelow starts catching up

In the singles, Preuss had given up a medal after two mistakes in the last shooting. Now she also showed slight weaknesses at her first standing stop. She had to reload twice, so Strelow only went into the race as tenth and 22.1 seconds behind France.

The Saxon, the best shooter in the World Cup in the pre -season, needed a relief in his first circulation, and then he cleared up all five slices in 18.7 seconds. For example, Strelow switched to Prussia second, 4.4 seconds behind Switzerland.

Subsequently, Preuss convinced with impeccable insoles before Strelow came to the last shooting with Quentin Fillon Fillon Maillet. Both made a mistake. But the Frenchman was faster on the way to the next golf for his country faster in the trail and the Norwegian Star Bö managed to intercept Strelow. He and his partner Ragnhild Femsteinevik had needed 15 reliefs.

“What the Johannes Thingnes Bö conjured up on the final round – it is simply a killer, the guy. That was well deserved because he is simply the best biathlete,” said Preuss, who was in the finish area: “We can watch. But be very satisfied today. “

With his rapid shooting deposits, Strelow is a specialist in the latest competition of biathletes. Usually he would have started in Lenzerheide with Vanessa Voigt. The Thuringian had to end her season prematurely because of the consequences of a cold and lack the title fights.

Further medal opportunities for German team

Preuss, who is currently by far the best in the team, jumped in for her sick teammate and is likely to ensure a novelty. She will be the first German at a World Cup at all seven possible starts. At the weekend, the women’s relay, where Germany is one of the gold favorites, and the final mass start for Prussia are still waiting. Strelow, on the other hand, had paused in singles on Wednesday to be ready for the shooting -heavy single mixed – a plan that went on from the DSV’s point of view.

“We speculated that it will be decided at the shooting range,” said Bitterling. “The base was laid on the shooting range and Justus did it very well as the final runner for the second time.”