Biathlon in Lenzerheide: Preuss at the end of their strength – World Cup solution for men

At the end of a fantastic world championship with four medals, Franziska Preuss simply went out. After a long lead, the 30-year-old had to be satisfied with seventh place in the final mass start of Lenzerheide because of abdominal pain and bad ski. The reason for frustration was only briefly in Switzerland, because with gold, once silver and twice bronze, the overall World Cup leader experienced the most successful weeks of their career. Preuss was able to laugh quickly behind the finish line, even if it was nothing in fifth place with the second solo title a day after fifth place.

“I take many nice moments with me. It was just good that you have proven that you can make it to the climax,” said Preuss: “If someone had told me that I would have brought four medals here I took that immediately. ” Prussia take “a lot of positive” with them, but as a seventh in her special discipline she was also disappointed: “I drive really happy home, but I’m still a bit sad today.”

Abdominal pain and bad ski at the World Cup final

Because at the grand finale, she had to invest more than desired in the victory of Swede Elvira Öberg. “I got so blatant stomach ache, it was just a fight,” said Preuss: “It was no fun.” The pain was gone after she opened her pants, but “it wasn’t nice at all,” she said. In addition, the skis did not go properly and a mistake with the third last shot also robbed her of the last medal hopes. “It was really frustrating, you have nothing to do. It already hurts, of course I imagined something else,” she said.

Overall, however, Preuss has little reason to be annoyed about the somewhat failed closing weekend. After years full of setbacks and health problems, she rewarded herself for the years of draft. “I think all winter fits very well and I just have a very good shape,” said Prussia almost modestly.

After the World Cup the overall World Cup in view

The reward was their first World Cup title in a single race in the persecution, silver in the sprint and twice bronze with the mixed relay and in the single mixed. “Of course I am very happy, I have already experienced it differently,” said Preuss. Due to illness, she could not be there at the World Championships several times or had to stop her season prematurely. This is history after an operation on the sinuses in the previous year, for the rest of the season she can now concentrate on winning the overall World Cup for the first time. “I have the dream of defending the yellow jersey until the end,” said Preuss.

Before the season will continue in the Czech Republic on March 7, relaxation is on the program. “I’m looking forward to a good snack at home, and also to be able to switch off a bit,” she said.

In Lenzerheide, Preuss had given everything in the season on Saturday, but with two releases in the last shooting but no chance of the podium “This is how biathlon is,” said Preuss. Previously, Sophia Schneider had caused a criminal round early on, together with Julia Tannheimer and Selina Grotian it was only enough for the fellow favorite with the superior triumph of France. “We are not satisfied with the result,” said women’s coach Kristian Mehringer. Before that there had been two season victories for the quartet.

Kühn fetches the first medal and announces resignation

While the women could not celebrate a relay medal for the first time in six years, the men with bronze still won their first own badge. In a final shooting thriller, the final runner Philipp Horn kept his nerve. Johannes Kühn then broke out in tears because it was finally his first important medal at the age of 33, just like for Danilo Riethmüller. Start runner Philipp Nawrath had already won bronze with the mixed relay at the start.

“Sitting here now and celebrating with the boys and the whole team is the greatest thing that I have achieved,” said Kühn, and immediately announced his plans for a career end on Saturday. “My plan goes until Olympics 2026. Plans can change, but now the plan is so,” said Kühn.

Finally upswing for the men

In the individual races at the season highlight, the men had previously disappointed, did not make it into the top 15 in sprint and persecution. “The medal is now a satisfaction,” said Kühn. Sports director Felix Bitterling added to the weak solo appearances: “Things have not fitted together. If they went well, they didn’t shoot well or vice versa. All the more beautiful that you have the thing now.”

The relay quartet took out the optimum, because the favorites were expected to be established: Norway around superstar Johannes Thingnes Böi won with a big lead off France. For Horn and Co. it was the first team medal since silver 2020 in Antholz. “Such a medal can do such a whole season. That gives us all an upswing,” said Horn.