Benedikt Doll Leads German Parade in Sprint

Germany’s Benedikt Doll shot clean to win this afternoon’s Lenzerheide Men’s 10 km sprint in 23:15.8, leading a parade of teammates Philipp Nawrath (3rd), Philipp Horn (tie 4th) and Johannes Kuehn (6th) to the Flower Ceremony. The 2017 IBU Sprint World Champion took control after cleaning the standing stage, then skied the last loop extremely well extending his lead with every meter to claim his fifth career victory.

Coffee Magic

Doll who previously announced his retirement at the end of the season, was thrilled to get the victory. “It is an incredible feeling. I did not expect it today. I had not so much good feeling before the race; then I drank a coffee to get a little bit more awake and it worked!”

The win was extra special; his whole family was in the tribune including his infant son. “My wife and son are here, and it is a happy moment to enjoy this together.”

“Enjoyed the standing shooting”

Improving performances (10th Oestersund and 7th Hochfilzen sprints) with each competition so far brought the 33-year-old to the top of the podium today. “I always need some races to get used to it. It worked also at the shooting range, I had an incredibly good feeling and really enjoyed the standing shooting.”

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Norway’s JT Boe with one penalty was the only man to challenge Doll, leaving the standing stage 4.5 seconds back, but was unable to catch the German, finishing second, 5.4 seconds back. Nawrath in third place like JT missed one shot, finishing 36.8 seconds back.

Light winds, cloudy skies and -1C set the stage for the 98-man field. Laegreid cleaned prone but Endre Stroemsheim matched with the day’s fastest time. Doll broke up the Norwegian logjam at the top, leaving 2.7 seconds behind Stroemsheim. Tarjei wearing Yellow and Red missed two prone shots, falling from contention. JT missed a prone shot but was skiing well, only 11 seconds back.

Doll and JT

Nawrath after a prone miss rebounded with a clean standing, moving just 9 seconds behind Laegreid. Doll took a big lead with an outstanding clean stage. JT shot as fast as possible in standing, closing the targets in rapid succession leaving 4.5 seconds back within sight of Doll.

Doll was on fire on the tracks in the last loop, extending his lead up to 35.7 seconds at the 8.4 km mark, crossing the line with the best time. JT made his German rival sweat a bit, but did not gain any ground, finishing 5.4 seconds back, with Nawrath third.

BMW IBU World Cup 3 Lenzerheide Men's 10 km Sprint

Tarjei Retains Yellow Bib

JT’s teammate, Sturla Holm Laegreid shot clean but finished tied for fourth with Horn with one penalty, 39.1 seconds back. Kuehn like Laegreid and Doll shot clean, finishing sixth, 44.2 seconds back. Tarjei Boe, with three penalties today finished 14th, 1:15.9 back but retained the Yellow Bib with 317 points.

Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni

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