Kontiolahti Sprint Win for Lisa Theresa Hauser

Austria’s Lisa Theresa Hauser, after shooting clean, held her form, sprinting down the last 100 meters to win the Kontiolahti Women’s 7.5 km sprint this afternoon in 20:39.5. Hauser’s win was the fourth of her career, her second in a sprint. Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi continued her return to form in second place with one penalty, 17.3 seconds back. Sweden’s Linn Persson shot clean for her second career podium in third place, 24.2 seconds back.

Emotional Hauser

Hauser after a summer filled with various problems was filled with emotion after her victory. “I am really happy now, really emotional, because I never expected such a good start to the season. I had some trouble in the summer so I told myself I had to go race-by-race and now I am here with another victory in a sprint. So, it is really cool.”

“I gave it all I had today”

Coming into the last loop, Hauser was not sure of the victory. “I knew there were some fast girls behind me. I came into the finish and said ‘I gave it all I had today so I have to be satisfied.’ Then another girl and another girl came to the finish and now I am standing here and it’s true. It is really great!”

Déjà vu

Today was a bit of déjà vu for Hauser. “It is a bit of a flashback. I had the same bib number as last year (when she won the Oestersund sprint); I had zero, zero and my old coach told me it was her lucky number. It was a good night but I was especially nervous before the race.”

Lunder’s Career Best

Canada’s Emma Lunder shot clean, finishing in a career-best fourth place, 25.4 seconds back. “For me it was a perfect race: to hit ten; I felt really strong skiing and our wax guys did an awesome job, so I did everything I could out there. I still had a lot of energy on the last lap. Our coaches and waxmen were cheering so loudly so I had all that energy to take with me around the loop.”

Germany’s Anna Weidel also shot clean, likewise finishing in a career-best fifth place, 26.6 seconds back. Her teammate Denise Herrmann-Wick and Norway’s Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, both with one penalty tied for sixth place, 31.6 seconds back.

BMW IBU World Cup 1 Kontiolahti Women's Sprint

Conditions remained the same as the men had earlier for the first women’s sprint of the season, with the wind flags barely fluttering, it would most likely take clean, or one penalty shooting to win and secure the advantage in tomorrow’s pursuit. Bib 9 Wierer set the tone with a steady clean prone stage, but 4 minutes later, Hermann-Wick one-upped her by 1.1 seconds. Hauser threw her name in the hat by cleaning a mere .1 seconds slower than the German. Tandrevold, starting midway through the field was the only woman to top Herrmann-Wick, but only by 1.8 seconds.

Vittozzi’s Standing Comeback

Emma Lunder, almost fifteen seconds slower in her clean prone stage was the first women to go10-for-10 with a perfect standing stage, taking lead momentarily. After a prone penalty, Vittozzi shot very fast and clean in standing, giving her a chance second podium of the week.

Vittozzi did not let the prone penalty distract her. “One mistake in prone was not good, but I tried to keep the focus…It just happened, and I just tried to push to the finish after that.”

Hauser was the second women to clean standing, taking 16.4 second lead into the final loop, while prone leader Tandrevold had a penalty dropping her from contention. Persson added her name to the 10-for-10 group, leaving standing in fifth position, up from 18th after prone.

Hauser’s Last Loop Power

Vittozzi capitalized on her ski speed in the last loop to finish strong, taking the early lead. Hauser, showing the power of two years ago scrambled up the Wall with ease, sprinted into the stadium, taking the win with a huge smile across her face.

Hauser admitted that, in the last loop, “I knew I had to give everything I had. There were really fast girls behind me including the Oeberg sisters, so I knew I had to give everything.”

Persson continuing to gain ground was up to fourth with 600 meters to go and then gathered all of her speed on the flat run into the finish to grab third place away from Lunder who led out of the standing stage.