Sweden’s Elvira Oeberg, after a dominating Sprint win on Thursday repeated with another sterling performance, taking the Oberhof Women’s 10 km Pursuit in 31:38.5. Elvira’s single penalty was the only miscue in her wire-to-wire victory, her first Sprint/Pursuit double in just over three years when she did the same at Pokljuka.

“Super happy…I hit all in standing”

Elvira was all smiles after finding her form and sharing the podium with sister Hanna for the first time this season in an individual competition. “It’s very special to race like this, to be in the front all the time. The snow is quite slow so you are feeling you are skiing pretty slow on this tough course. I am super happy that I managed to hit all of them in standing. Johannes (Lukas) told me before the finish line that Hanna was going for third place; it was really nice to celebrate with her. I know if she is fighting for the podium, she is very hard to beat!"

Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen, also with one penalty retained the Red Pursuit Bib, with her second place finish, 16.6 seconds back. Elvira’s sister Hanna put on a late rush, cleaning the final standing stage, then outskiing France’s Julia Simon in the last loop to finish third, 1:04.5 back, with two penalties.

Simon after battling Minkkinen the whole competition cracked in the last standing stage with three penalties, finishing fourth, 1:15.5 back. Germany’s Franziska Preuss with two penalties, finished fifth, 1:20.7 back. France’s Justine Braisaz-Bouchet jumped from 31st at the start to finish sixth, also with two penalties, 1:21.8 back.

Perfect Afternoon

The women had a perfect afternoon for their final competition here, with brilliant sunshine, a wintery -6 temperature, light winds on the range and once again a packed stadium filled with enthusiastic fans.

Three Stages, Standings Unchanged

Elvira led the field into the first prone, easily closing her five targets before her rivals fired a shot. Minkkinen and Simon both matched the Swede, 18 seconds back.

The Swede’s penalty in the second prone opened the door for her rivals, but Simon and Minkkinen also missed once; the top three remained static.

The top three made the first standing stage look very easy with all 15 targets rapidly closing, leaving the standings unchanged.

No Drama for Elvira; Hanna Skis to Third

There was no drama in the last standing for Elvira, all five targets closed, assuring her an Oberhof Sprint/Pursuit double. Minkkinen cleaned leaving second, while Simon picked up three penalties, dropping to 1:01 back but still hanging onto third. Hanna closed the six-second gap between her and Simon in the last loop, then powering away pulling away in the last kilometre for third place.

Photos: IBU/Heilwagen, Yevenko, Nordic Focus