Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen needed a spare round in his standing stage of the Skidskytte Kampen Single Mixed Relay, but reloaded quickly, slinging his rifle on his back and then speeding ahead of his rivals on the last loop, claiming the victory with Juni Arnekleiv in 17:05.6. The Norwegians topped star-studded field that lined up for this evening’s competitions at Stockholm’s Olympic Stadium.

Christiansen’s last loop speed put his team 1.2 seconds up on second-place Martin Uldal/Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold. Defending champions Tero Seppala and Suvi Minkkinen finished third, 3.7 seconds back.

“Great to strike back”

Christiansen expected a battle between the Norwegians and the second heat winners and home team Martin Ponsiluoma/Hanne Oeberg, but the Swedish duo faded in the last leg. “After the Olympics, we thought the Swedish were quite close after the relays and for sure Martin’s pursuit win. So, it’s great to strike back.”

“Good feeling…to kick off the last trimester”

Regarding the victory, the 50,000 Euros prize money and the upcoming last three World Cup weeks, “We are here trying to earn some well-deserved money after the Olympics; It was only a loss, money-wise…I enjoy racing here every year and for sure will come back! It was nice to push the body again today, after a quiet week after the Olympics. I have a good feeling from today that will kick off the last trimester in a really good way.”

“Motivation to ski fast, shoot well”

Arnekleiv appreciated the atmosphere. “It’s crazy, everyone is screaming especially for the Swedish which gave us a lot of motivation to ski fast and shoot well and we did!”

Mixed Relay Heats to France and Sweden

The first heat was a mainly a battle between Emilien Jacquelin/Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen/Tero Seppala with France winning in 17:44.7, 11.5 seconds up on the Finns. The Swedish duo of Hanna Oeberg/Martin Ponsiluoma controlled of the second, going unchallenged in 17:44.7, 16.2 seconds before Germany’s Lukas Fratzscher/Marlene Fichtner.

The athletes not making the mixed relay final competed in a three-lap mass start sprints. Tamara Steiner topped the women’s field, shooting clean in 5:16.5, with Maren Kirkeeide second, and Anna Magnusson third. Campbell Wright won the tight men’s sprint battle in 4:53.9, 1.8 and 2.1 seconds before Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, and Simon Eder after all three missed a shot in standing.

Christiansen Reloads Fast, Seals Win

The single mixed relay final pitted the two heat winners, France and Sweden, but both faded due to missed shots in the last leg. Hanna and Minkkinen battled through their legs, Finland leads at the final exchange. Christiansen took the lead out of prone, moving ahead of Tero Seppala, with Ponsiluoma dropping 14 seconds back and Uldal third. It came down to the last standing, Christiansen missed reloading brilliantly fast, speeding out of the range with a half-step lead, turning it into a win.

Photos: IBU/ Nordic Focus, Svensk Skidskytte