Austria’s Lisa Theresa Hauser went to 20-for-20 when she cleaned the final standing stage as Yellow Bib and pursuit leader Suvi Minkkinen toured the penalty loop. Leaving 12 seconds behind the Finn, Hauser was on a mission, sprinting around the final 2 km loop, and hunting down Minkkinen in the final few hundred meters, securing a 30:14.5 victory. Today’s win was Hauser’s first since winning the Annecy Le Grand Bornand Mass Start just a couple of weeks short of 3 years ago.

“Big goal…to win a pursuit”

The 32-year-old Hauser, filled with emotion, explained the win’s importance. “The last years were a little bit difficult for me. I had individual victories in each race except the pursuit. this was one big goal in my career, to also win a pursuit. Today it happened. With the zero, it was almost a perfect race for me. I am so glad; I really cannot believe it!”

“Tried to make the black targets white…it worked”

She knew Minkkinen had missed a shot. “I heard it from the spectators but tried to focus on myself. I didn’t take a look at her targets; I just heard the audience. I just tried to focus to make the black targets white. It worked out today, so it is really cool!”

Last loop, “Amazing”

As for the last loop, “It was amazing. At first, I thought I was not able to catch her. Somehow, I got closer and closer; the gap got smaller. I really tried to push to the end. I really did not know if I should take a sprint in the finish but I managed to do it at the water tower. I am really happy and was able to enjoy the finish.”

Finland’s Minkkinen retained her Yellow Bib in second place, with one penalty, 2 .5 seconds back. Sweden’s Anna Magnusson, after finishing second in Friday’s Sprint was third today, with one penalty, 31.8 seconds back. France’s Camile Bened shot clean in fourth place, 38.7 seconds back. Norway’s Maren Kirkeeide, with one penalty finished fifth, 1 minute back. Czechia’s Lucie Charvatova with two penalties finished sixth, her best result since winning Sprint Bronze at the 2020 IBU World Championships in Antholz.

Fog, Snow, and Perfect Prone Shooting

Light snow and fog dominated the season’s first pursuit. Minkkinen easily cleaned both prone stages, as did Hauser and Hanna Oeberg in second and third. Magnusson and Charvatova followed. The first standing stage repeated the prone stages: five shots, five targets closed for Minkkinen and Hauser; Hanna went to the penalty loop. Magnusson moved to third, 48 seconds back with Bened following.

Hauser Hunts Down Minkkinen

The leader missed her last shot in the final standing stage. It seemed to make no difference with a 12-second gap over the 20-for-20 Hauser. However, Hauser hunting, closing the gap until passing the Finn near the Arctura for the victory, winning by .5 seconds. Magnusson also closed her five final targets, securing third place.

Photos: IBU/Per Danielsson, Christian Manzoni, Nordic Focus