Benedikt Doll skis to Antholz Mass Start Win

Germany’s Benedikt Doll cleaned the last standing stage, then skied away from Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Boe in the last loop to win the Antholz men’s 15 km mass start in 37:14.9. Doll had a single penalty in the third win of his career. Boe, with three penalties finished second, 31.3 seconds back. Boe’s Teammate Sturla Holm Laegreid, with three penalties, finished third, 1:28.8 back.

BMW IBU World Cup Antholz Men's Mass Start 22

One happy man

Doll was one happy man after his first-ever mass start victory. “It was really incredible. I had so good skis and was thinking our team is really good. For shooting, I said to myself I should not go angry like in Ruhpolding but I want to go more offensively. It worked perfect.”

Last Loop enjoyment

As for his clean last standing and the strong last loop, he added, “I am really proud of my standing shooting and my last lap; that I could stay in front of Johannes Thingnes Boe. Everybody knows he is a really fast skier. I was a little bit nervous when I left the shooting range…I knew I had to push really hard in the first half of the lap and see if he would come closer or if he would lose maybe some seconds. The first half of the lap was really hard and then when I went to this long uphill to the Huberalm I saw he was not in reach, so I had some seconds to enjoy this moment.”

“Really important for your career and yourself”

Regarding his big win, “It is always really nice to win a race. A podium is of course nice, but to win a race is really important for your career and yourself. I am really, really happy today.”

France’s Antonin Guigonnat, with two penalties, finished fourth, 1:34.7 back. Norway’s Sivert Guttorm Bakken, with three penalties, finished fifth, 1:35.2 back. Finland’s Tero Seppala, with three penalties, finished sixth, 1:42.1 back.

Overcast, light snow: twelve men within 18 seconds

Overcast with a little light snow accompanied by a strong wind cutting across the range greeted the men for their last mass start before the Olympic Winter Games next month. Johannes, closely followed by Quentin Fillon Maillet controlled the pace going into the first prone stage. Bakken, Laegreid and the Yellow Bib led the next six men, all of whom cleaned out of the stadium. A dozen men were within 18 seconds as they headed into the second 3 km loop.

Leading Trio

The trio maintained the lead, with JT and Doll joining the group as they came to the second prone stage. The red-haired Norwegian and Doll quickly closed all five targets while their main rivals went to the penalty loop. Guigonnat went out third, but 9.8 seconds back. Doll, Guigonnat and fifth position Krcmar remained as the only clean shooters through the prone stages.

JT stretches his lead

By the 8.7 km split, JT had a five-second lead over Doll and was pulling away, with Guigonnat now 32 seconds back as they neared the first standing stage. The two leaders both picked up a penalty, but JT shot faster, stretching his lead to almost nine seconds. Everyone behind the duo was also missing, except Seppala, Laegreid and Krcmar who cleaned leaving into third, fourth and fifth but 26, 30 and 36 seconds back, respectively. The Czech star remained the only man with three perfect stages.

Up by seven seconds

The three-time World Cup Total Score winner had a 12-second over the German lead into the deciding last standing stage. The leader missed a shot while Doll cleaned, allowing the German to leave up by seven seconds. The wind battered the group behind them with Laegreid and Seppala both adding penalty loops but holding third and fourth with Guigonnat joining them, all 1:27 back.

Smiling Doll cruises to victory

Doll battled hard, adding to his lead. With 1800 meters to go, he had padded his lead to 14.9 seconds over JT. Laegreid left his rivals behind and was solely in third, 1:21 back. The head-bobbing Doll never let up, adding seconds to his lead as his Norwegian rival wilted. Doll looked back as he topped the last uphill into the stadium, smiled and cruised to the finish, smiling all the way to his first-ever mas start victory. JT and Laegreid followed, setting the podium.

Full of Confidence

JT was full of confidence and thought he could win today. “I went for the win today from the start. I really believed I could win the race before the race started. I was quite confident, more than normal. I think that is why it brought me into such a good position. I was in an attacking mode.”

Windy Shooting Practice

Laegreid thought his time on the range was good preparation for next month’s Olympic Winter Games. “First of all, I just tried to have fun. This is like Formula One; you have to go full gas and then put on the brakes when you are in front. I tried to go smart and use my energy when I got the most of it.” As for his last standing stage when the leaders had no wind but Laegreid and Co. faced a brutal wind, “I do not know what he (Doll) is talking about. It was difficult for me. I think the man up there gave me some challenge so I can be better for the Olympics. There will be wind there. Today I got to practice my windy shooting and they did not. So maybe I am better in the Olympics!”

Photos: IBU/Thibaut

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