Once Sweden’s Hanna Oeberg took the lead after a perfect prone stage, she never relinquished the top spot, adding a very fast standing stage and flying to a 19:10.7 win in this afternoon’s Ruhpolding Women’s 7.5 km Sprint. Today’s win was her second sprint title of the season, earlier taking the top spot at Annecy Le Grand Bornand.

Key to victory: “to be a little bit more relaxed”

After a flawless competition where everything went according to plan, Hanna admitted, “It feels very good for sure. The key today was to be a little bit more relaxed; also, to be able to go out and enjoy it. I really like to compete here in Ruhpolding. I think I managed to do that and it paid off.”

“A winning streak in the family”

Hanna, very familiar with Ruhpolding after training here extensively over the years, followed her sister Elvira, who won last week in Oberhof by taking today’s sprint. “Now, we have a winning streak in the family. We just have to keep it going. We also inspire each other, me and Elvira but also the others in the team to do well. This is also like a second home place for us so there were many positive things.”

Yellow Bib Lou Jeanmonnot also shot clean in second place, 7.5 seconds back. Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi, in her first individual competition after sitting out Oberhof, shot clean in third place, 11.7 seconds back.

All three women in the Flower Ceremony matched the top three on the range. Hanna’s sister Elvira finished fourth, 14.6 seconds back. Ruhpolding resident Franziska Preuss rebounded from a standing penalty that cost her team a podium place in Wednesday’s relay with a clean-shooting fifth place, 16.5 seconds back. Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen finished sixth, 28.5 seconds back.

Preuss Delights the Crowd

The women had another calm, partly cloudy day with the normal huge crowds for their sprint. Preuss delighted the crowd with a clean, fast prone stage that put her atop the leaderboard. Jeanmonnot, Vittozzi, Minkkinen, and Wierer all matched Preuss, each a bit faster until it was Hanna’s turn. She cleaned the fastest, taking over the lead, 1.7 seconds faster than Vittozzi.

Lots of Zeroes

Standing looked much as prone did; a lot of zeroes on what is known as the easiest shooting range on the World Cup circuit. Preuss took the initial lead, ceded it to Jeanmonnot, then Vittozzi. Once again, Hanna upped them all, putting a 10-second gap between her and Vittozzi.

Hanna’s Fifth Sprint Win of her Career

Jeanmonnot pushed the very hard over the last 2.5 km, taking over the top spot momentarily as Vittozzi faded a bit. Yet, Hanna remained in control, skiing a steady last loop for the fifth Sprint win of her career.

Photos: IBU/Harald Deubert, Yevenko, Nordic Focus