First-time IBU Cup wins for Nevland, Tannheimer

Martin Nevland of Norway and Julia Tannheimer of Germany won the Mass Start 60 competitions in Sjusjoen.

For both, it was a premier win in the IBU Cup.

Nevland prevails in an all-Norwegian battle

Nevland, 11th after his one and only miss of the day in the first prone stage took the lead after the second shoot and won in 38:58.5. Clean-shooting Mats Oeverby finished in the second place, 13.6 seconds behind Nevland. Johan Olav Botn, with a very modest 14/20 shooting score, out-skied the field for more than a minute and salvaged podium position, 14 seconds behind his teammate winner.

The Winner's words - Martin Nevland

It feels great to win in the IBU Cup. The conditions were hard today, but I felt strong on my skis. I took control in the fourth lap and brought the lead home. It was a super closing of Trimester 1. It feels great to go home for a Christmas as a winner.

Watch Men's Mass Start 60 Highlights here

Martin Uldal and Vettle Paulsen, both with 16 hits, brought Norway additional two places in the Flower ceremony. Valentin Lejeune of France finished sixth for his first-ever IBU Cup podium.

Botn has 660 points atop the Total Score standings. He won five times, finished second twice and third once in Trimester 1.

First-ever IBU Cup win for 18-year-old Tannheimer

Earlier in the day, Tannheimer, still only 18 years old, took the Mass Start 60 in Sjusjoen for her first-ever IBU Cup win. Norwegians Jenny Enodd, second, and Ida Lien, third, joined Tannheimer on the podium.

On a very foggy day, Tannheimer missed three shots for a win in 37:53.7. She took the lead after the first standing stage and kept her focus until the end. Jenny Enodd, with two misses, finished second, 9.2 seconds behind Tannheimer. Ida Lien, missing four shots in the first standing stage, finished third, 19 seconds behind the German winner.

The Winner's words - Julia Tannheimer

This win means a lot to me. I didn't expect much. I don't really know how I managed the race. I focused on shooting and pulled the trigger when I saw a black target. It is a fantastic ending to my first-ever Trimester in the IBU Cup.

Watch Women's Mass Start 60 Highlights here

Oceane Michelon of France, with 16/20, finished fourth, 25.1 seconds behind Tannheimer. Dunja Zdouc of Austria was the best shooter of the day with just one miss: she finished fifth, 48.3 seconds behind the winner from Germany. Stina Nilsson of Sweden, missing seven shots, finished sixth, 1:04.7 back.

Jeanne Richard of France will spend her Christmas as the Total Score leader with 408 points, 24 ahead of Enodd. Tannheimer moved to fourth place after the win today.