Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi took the lead after cleaning the first prone stage and never looked back, shooting clean to win the Loop One Super Sprint in 23:44.5. After sitting out all last season, Vittozzi, looking confident, reaffirmed her status as one of the top women in biathlon.

“I can’t wait for the winter!”

Emotional at the finish line, throwing kisses and bowing gratefully Vittozzi said, “It is really amazing. I am very emotional because I wasn’t there for a long time racing with the girls. I really enjoyed this day. I can’t wait to be in the winter!”

As for the clean shooting and track dominance, “I just did my job. I know what I can do in biathlon, so I enjoyed my moment, living in the present. I tried to shoot clean. I did my best, so I am satisfied.”

“I have good sensations”

Regarding her shape going with a home Olympic Winter Games on the horizon, “Step-by-step, I pursued my condition. I have good sensations, so I trust my feelings. I do my best in every race. I know that with all the work I have done, the results will come.”

Sweden took the two remaining podium places. Johanna Skottheim who spent most of last season in the IBU Cup finished second, with two penalties, 5.9 seconds back. Anna Magnusson, also with two penalties, finished third, 7.4 seconds back.

Germany’s Anna Weidel and Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen, with one and three penalties finished fourth and fifth, 18.8 and 24.9 seconds back respectively. Norway’s Karoline Offigstad Knotten, with three penalties, finished sixth, 26.1 seconds back.

Vittozzi, Minkkinen Dominate Heats

Unlike the closely contested men’s heats, Vittozzi and Minkkinen ran away with their heats, both shooting clean with ease. The biggest non-qualifiers were France’s Julia Simon and Oceane Michelon, as well as Norway’s Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold. Lou Jeanmonnot led the pack out of the rolling start, with Vittozzi on her shoulder through a controlled first loop. Vittozzi cleaned the first prone, followed by the also-clean Weidel and Gandler The two leaders shot side-by-side, cleaning the second prone with the Italian holding a 2.5 second margin.

Vittozzi’s Huge Lead

The German/Italian first standing duel ended with both picking up a penalty. Vittozzi skied a very fast loop, just like her shooting cadence, taking a 9-second lead over Weidel and the clean-shooting Skottheim, who moved from ninth to third position. With a huge lead, the Italian shot fast and missed one shot in the last standing, but was unchallenged. Skottheim, Weidel, and Magnusson all clean, battled for the podium in the next three spots.

Vittozzi crossed the finish line throwing kisses to the fans, thanking them for their standing ovation. Skottheim and Magnusson followed in second and third.

Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni, Dmytro Yevenko