Julia Schwaiger, Lisa Hauser, Simon Eder and Felix Leitner had to settle for tenth place after 4 x 6 km in extremely difficult wind conditions in Zhangjiakou. Gold was won in a dramatic finish thanks to the sprint qualities of overall World Cup winner Johannes Thingnes Bö Norway ahead of France and the athletes from Russia.
Schwaiger and Hauser each had one penalty loop, and the ÖOC quartet recorded 13 spare rounds. In the end, the victorious Norwegians were 2:58.6 minutes short. Schwaiger represented Dunja Zdouc, who was originally intended for the mixed relay, and whose Ct value was still too high due to corona disease. The woman from Salzburg handed over in 14th place, Hauser, Eder and Leitner gradually caught up.
Difficult wind conditions
World champion Hauser started prone with three penalties, but saved herself with a penalty loop in significantly different wind conditions than when zeroing in. The Tyrolean stayed clean in standing. Eder allowed four spares, anchor leader Leitner only one in slightly improving conditions. Last year the Austrians sensationally won silver behind Norway at the World Championships with David Komatz, Eder, Zdouc and Hauser.
After the last three World Championship titles in a row, the Norwegians also triumphed in the Olympic mixed relay. The top favorites had to tremble until the home straight. After initial problems for Marte Olsbu Röiseland and Tiril Eckhoff, who had three penalties, Tarjei and Johannes Thingnes Bö got the coals out of the fire.
The latter, despite one spare and being behind after the last standing stage, held his own after a strong final lap in the final sprint against World Cup leader Quentin Fillon Maillet and Eduard Latipow. For the twelve-time world champion, one of the possible stars of the Beijing Games, it was the second Olympic gold overall. Four years ago in Pyeongchang, the Norwegians were beaten by France in the Olympic mixed relay.
Source: Nachrichten
