Dominic Unterweger of Austria and Paula Botet of France were the winners of the Individual competitions at the IBU Cup in Ridnaun-Val Ridanna, Italy on Friday. It was Unterweger’s first-ever IBU Cup victory, while Botet claimed her second win of the season.

After sitting out last season with a nagging back injury, Unterweger returned to the IBU Cup last week in Obertilliach, showing promising form with an eighth place in the first Sprint. Today, he hit all 20 targets in the Individual to secure his maiden IBU Cup win in 49:57.1. Norway’s Kasper Kalkenberg, with two misses, finished second, 30.5 seconds back. Henning Sjokvist of Sweden, who also shot clean, placed third, 37.1 seconds behind Unterweger.

In the women's race Botet, shooting 18/20, won in 42:24.5, taking another step toward a return to the World Cup. Her teammate Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, also with 18/20, finished second, 23.3 seconds back. Austria’s Lara Wagner, with one miss, completed the podium in third place, 23.9 seconds behind Botet.

Photo: IBU Pool: Davide Barbieri