Elvira Oeberg Wins Hochfilzen Pursuit Battle

Sweden’s Elvira Oeberg battled sprint winner Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold of Norway for much of this afternoon’s Hochfilzen Women’s 10 km Pursuit, before shooting clean and fast in the last standing stage then skiing away to her first victory of the new season in 29:44.6. Elvira’s single penalty in the first prone stage was the only blemish in her first-ever victory at Hochfilzen.

“Really good fight with Ingrid”

Elvira was all smiles at the finish after her close battle with Tandrevold, “I am really, really happy with what I did today. I had a really good fight with Ingrid the entire race. I think we managed to help each other on the tracks. Entering the shooting, I was, ‘I am just going to do this like I do in training.’ It paid off!”

“Great feeling” last loop

As for enjoying the final loop, she added, “It was great, just to get that confidence from shooting, to be able to clean. It is just a great feeling. Then just to be able to enjoy the final lap a little bit is the best feeling.”

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Tandrevold after vying for the lead up to the last standing, left alongside Switzerland’s Lena Haecki-Gross who outsprinted the Norwegian for second place in the final 100 meters. Haecki-Gross’ career-best second place topped her previous best third place four years ago in the Annecy Le Grand Bornand pursuit, when ironically Tandrevold outdueled her in the last loop for second place. Today, like then, both cleaned the last standing stage. but Haecki-Gross finished second,11.2 seconds back to Tandrevold’s third place, 13.9 seconds back. Tandrevold’s third place was enough to move her into the Yellow Bib going into Lenzerheide next week.

The sunny warm conditions prevailed for the women’s pursuit. Tandrevold and Elvira both missed a shot in the first prone. Haecki-Gross and Vittozzi cleaned, going out 1-2; Elvira and Tandrevold trailed by 11 seconds. The top four shot together in the second prone. Haecki-Gross was fast and clean, followed by Vittozzi, Tandrevold and Elvira in quick succession within 13.6 seconds.

The 28-year-old Swiss shot on lane one in the first standing with her rivals alongside; she and Vittozzi both missed a shot. Elvira and Tandrevold cleaned, moving back to 1-2, with Haecki-Gross and Vittozzi 16 and 22 seconds in arears.

Elvira’s Rapid Last Standing Stage

Elvira and Tandrevold shot back-to back in the last standing. Elvira cleaned rapidly while her rival fumbled loading shots, eventually cleaning. Tandrevold’s lost time allowed the also-perfect Haecki-Gross to leave the stadium alongside the Norwegian, battling for second place 17 seconds behind Elvira.

Elvira powered through the last loop unchallenged, while the Norwegian/Swiss duo battled back-and-forth for 1900 meters. Out of the last tunnel, Haecki-Gross sprinted past her rival, grabbing second place and a personal-best.

BMW IBU World Cup 2 Hochfilzen Women's 10 km Pursuit

Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi, with one penalty finished fourth, 32 seconds back. France’s Julia Simon, last season’s World Cup Total Score titlist, with one penalty finished fifth, 1:01.5 back. Elvira’s sister Hanna shot clean in sixth place, 1:14.6 back.

Photos: IBU/Jasmin Walter

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