This was the Junior Cup in Ridnaun

Anna Andexer from Austria is the winner of the first two stages of the Junior Cup. The 20-year-old won three sprint races and the single mixed relay together with partner Lukas Haslinger. The German team put in a strong performance in the men's event.

Anna Andexer continued where she left off in Pokljuka in the first sprint in Ridnaun. She won the race. With one shooting error, she was 20 seconds faster than Alma Siegesmund from Germany, who remained penalty-free. Fabiana Carpella from Italy completed the podium. The strong Frenchwomen Voldiya Galmace Paulin and Fany Bertrand followed in fifth and sixth place.

The men's race was won by Matija Legovic, who already has experience in the World Cup. The Croatian raced in the Hochfilzen sprint last week. He won the race despite two penalties. Vadim Kurales from the Ukraine finished eleven seconds behind Legovic without a penalty. Marcin Zawol from Poland finished in third place.

Ukraine was unbeatable in the mixed relay. With only seven reloads, the team managed to win ahead of Germany and Italy. In the single mixed relay, Anna Andexer and Lukas Haslinger only needed six reloads and were thus able to clearly pull away from the competition. Fany Bertrand and Edgar Geny from France battled with the Austrians for victory right up to the last shooting. Fany Bertrand shot two penalty rounds in her last prone shooting and had to let Anna Andexer go. Marlene Fichtner secured third place for her team on the final lap when she overtook the Czech Katerina Pavlu.

In the last race of 2023 in the Junior Cup, the sprint on Saturday, the German team showed its strength. Victory went to Leonhard Pfund, who remained penalty-free. His teammate Domenic Endler missed out on victory by five seconds. Tim Nechwatal completed the German team's good result. He shared third place with Fabian Müllauer from Austria.

The women's sprint victory again went to Anna Andexer. "I'm very happy with my performance in the first two stages of the Junior Cup. It is unbelievable. I'm very proud," she said after her third win in four races. Like Andexer, Marlene Fichtner shot one penalty loop and finished 17 seconds behind the Austrian. Alma Siegesmund finished third.

The next Junior Cup will take place in Jakuszyce (Poland) in February.