Hanna Oeberg Ends Season with Oslo Mass Start Win

Sweden’s IBU Mass Start World Champion Hanna Oeberg took control of the season’s final competition, the Olso Holmenkollen women’s 12.5 km mass start when she cleaned the first standing stage, going on to a runaway victory in 36:33.5. Oeberg led after the first prone stage, slipped to second in the next and from that point, controlled the competition, despite foggy conditions and her only penalty of the day in the last standing stage.

“Oberhof feeling”

Hanna, who won her IBU WCH title in foggy Oberhof, was quite pleased with her season-ending victory. “I am really happy; I think today had a little bit of Oberhof feeling. I enjoyed it.”

“Happy how I managed to end the season”

As for her final standing stage and the missed shot, she added, “I am not happy with that miss in the last shot, but then I heard that Lou missed so I could enjoy the last loop a bit. I had a lot of teammates out on the tracks cheering for me and a lot of spectators are Swedish fans here. I enjoyed this competition very much but it will be good to have some holidays now. I am very happy how I managed to end this season.”

Norway’s Marte Olsbu Roeiseland in the final competition of her storied career, jumped to second place after cleaning the last standing stage, finishing with one penalty, 22.6 seconds back. France’s Anais Chevalier-Bouchet, also in her final World Cup competition, finished third, with three penalties, 43.7 seconds back.

Julia Simon Wins Total Score and Mass Start Globes

France’s Julia Simon, with two penalties finished fifth, 56.6 seconds back, but scored enough points to win the World Cup Women’s Mass Start Score crystal globe, her second small globe of the season after the Pursuit Score win yesterday. The small globe will fit nicely alongside the World Cup Total Score big Crystal Globe that she received today. Simon is the first French female to win the World Cup Total Score since Sandrine Bailly won it in 2005.

Germany’s Hanna Kebinger, with one penalty finished in a career-best fourth place, 46.5 seconds back. Denise Herrmann-Wick, also in her final day as a biathlete finished sixth, with three penalties, 57.1 seconds back.

BMW IBU World Cup 9 Oslo Holmenkollen Women's 12.5 km Mass Start

Blue Bib (U25) to Elvira Oeberg

Elvira Oeberg after a hard end to the season won Blue Bib (U25) title for the second consecutive season.

More Fog: Battle for Second in Total Score

The fog thickened before the women started, forcing the trainers to zero from the firing line. The heavy fog and still soft snow combined for tough conditions in this final competition of the 2022/23 BMW IBU World Cup season. Although the Women’s World Cup Total Score was already decided, there was still a battle for second behind Simon with Wierer, Vittozzi and Herrmann-Wick separated by only 43 points. The Mass Start Score remained in play even though Simon had a healthy 79-point lead. From the outset, Simon with Hermann-Wick on her shoulder set the pace in the first loop. Thirteen women, led by Hanna and Simon cleaned the first prone stage. Herrmann-Wick and Dorothea Wierer each had a penalty, falling back to 15th and 16th position.

A pack of eight led by the Yellow/Red Bib separated themselves from the rest of the field before the second prone stage. Simon cleaned with a quick cadence, as did Hanna, less than two seconds slower. Lou Jeanmonnot and Kebinger after closing their tenth consecutive target followed, but 10 and 28 seconds back.

Hanna cleans first standing, takes lead

Simon and Hanna shot side-by-side in the first standing. Hanna cleaned very fast, but Simon missed two shots. Jeanmonnot took advantage of her teammate’s penalties, cleaning and moving into second position, while Kebinger also went to 15-for-15 in third, 29 seconds back. Simon came out of the loop fifth, 47 seconds back.

Penalty and the win

The Swedish star led by more than 20 seconds coming to the last standing stage of the competition and season. Shooting confidently, the first four targets closed before missing the final one. Still, she left with a 15-second lead over Olsbu Roeiseland who jumped to second after a clean stage when Jeanmonnot went to the penalty loop.

Marte, “I am going to do it right”

The Norwegian who won twice in Nove Mesto just weeks ago was determined to finish her career on a high note after finishing 32nd in yesterday’s sprint. “Yesterday, I was not so happy; two mistakes in standing was too much. I was thinking, should I quit this way…Last night, I decided that if I am going to quit, I am going to do it right, do my best. The shape was not as good (today) as it can be but I did my best and won second place. The standing shooting was the best I can do. It felt good to cross the finish line and know that okay, I have done my best today.”

Chevalier-Bouchet’s focus

Kebinger left third, but just two seconds ahead of Chevalier-Bouchet who had a penalty. Chevalier-Bouchet knew the importance of this last competition of her career. She was so focused on doing well; so much that she was the last woman on the range during zeroing. ‘I was so focused on this race. I really wanted to do a good race. At the end of the fourth shooting when someone told me ‘you are four and fighting for the podium,’ I said, ‘you have to do this.’ I knew I had good shape so I tried to ski well and, in my mind, I knew (she would come back to me). It is a perfect end for me.” Hanna’s last loop simply confirmed her victory, a season-ending win after taking the IBU World Championship title in the same discipline last month.

Simon Holding Big Globe “feels more real”

Julia Simon, crossing the finish line in fifth place after leading early added to margin of victory in the World Cup Total Score, finishing with 1093 points to 911 points for second place Dorothea Wierer of Italy. Simon described the feeling of holding the Big Globe for the first time. “It feels more real. It is so crazy. I am really proud of my season. It is so nice. Now all the pressure is over, so I ma really happy. I am most proud of my regularity. I wanted to be more regular at the beginning of the season. Now it is so nice to be again on the Flower Ceremony. I think this globe is the proof that I am a better biathlete this year.”

Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni, Igor Stančík