Russian Golden Double in Mixed Relays

The last competition day of IBU Cup Obertilliach was dedicated to the first mixed relays of the season. In the end of the day it was Russia who made their way into the top in both competitions. In the 4x6 km mixed relay Anastasiia Shevchenko, Anastasiia Goreeva, Nikita Porshnev and Maxim Tsvetkov took the win in 1:05:58.5. The team used a total of 6 spares and managed to avoid the penalty loops. In the single mixed relay team Russia paired up Evgeniya Burtasova and Anton Babikov who with the help of 9 spare rounds took the win in 39.39.2. 

Mixed Relay

Norway with Marthe Krakstad Johansen, Aasne Skrede, Haavard Gutuboe Bogetveit and Erlend Bjoentegaard used a total of 8 spares and came in second, 54.8 seconds back. A last shooting round surprise, Italy with Beatrice Trabucchi, Michaela Carrara, Didier Bionaz and Dominik Windisch came in third; 9 spares and 1:26.5 seconds behind.

Early lead for France

France took the early lead after the first shooting stage. With Bened quickly closing all the targets, the team arrived at the second shooting of the first leg also in the lead. Russia’s Shevcheko was second, only .5 seconds behind. Although Shevchenko closed the targets without mistakes, losing the ski pole when going out from the shooting mat cost valuable seconds. That gave the chance for Bened to still leave the range in first, despite using one spare round. 

Arriving to the first exchange still leading, Bened sent Botet to protect the position. Russia, only 1.1 seconds behind, in second, Germany third. While Goreeva showed better ski speed and arrived to prone position ahead of Botet, she struggled with the shooting resulting in three spares. That gave an advantage to Botet to take back the lead. Botet, having used one spare, managed to leave the range the fastest, Ukraine with Ekaterina Bekh rose to second, 23.5 seconds back, Germany third, 28.3 seconds back. Goreeva dropped to seventh, 46.9 seconds back. Absolutely fabulous on skies, Goreeva pushed herself to fifth by the start of her standing stage. Closing all five targets with ease, the Russian found herself in second position, 16.5 seconds behind Botet who used one spare round. 

Russia turns the game in their favour 

Although France was still in the lead at the third exchange, Goreeva had taken back two seconds in the last loop showing that the team will continue to fight for the win. Norway’s Skrede exchanged in third, 18.2 seconds behind France, 3 seconds behind Russia. Now it was time for the men to show what they are capable of. France’s Ambroise Meunier cleared and kept the team in the first place after the first shooting of the third leg. Norway’s Bogetveit used two spares that dropped the team to fourth. Russia’s Porshnev used one and left the range in second , 8.7 seconds behind Meunier. Vitaly Trush of Ukraine used two spares in third. In the standing round, however, the luck turned for the French team. As Meunier earned two penalty loops, Porshnev cleared taking a 14.9 second lead over Trush, who also closed all five targets. Bogetveit used yet again two spare rounds and left the range in third, 34.5 seconds back. Outskiing the Ukrainian, Bogetveit handed over to Bjoentegaard in second, Ukraine third. 

Maxim Tsvetkov, the Russian anchor enjoyed a 27.9 second lead over Norway at the final exchange. Knowing that he had a huge advantage, Tsvetkov let the pressure get to him in the first prone when used two spares to close the targets. To his luck, Bjoentegaard was unable to close the targets without the spares as well, meaning that the Russian could retain the lead. Ukraine’s anchor leg Naysko used two spares placing third. Arriving to the final shooting with a 41.2 second lead, Tsvetkov had room for errors. But keeping a firm and steady hand, he cleared the standing without any problems making it clear as a day that Russia will be taking the win.

Ukraine drops out, Italy pushes to the podium

Another fight started for the last two spots of the podium. Bjoentegaard had to use one spare, but still managed to get out from the range in second position. Naysko however, crumbled completely earning two penalty loops meaning that the team was not even close to coming to the podium today. That gave Italy’s Dominik Windisch a chance to turn the cards to his favour. Despite flirting with the penalty loop after his three initial misses, Windisch managed to clean the standing taking his team to the podium in third. 

Single Mixed Relay

After a great triumph in the mixed relay, the Russian team hoped for more glory, pairing up Anton Babikov and Evgeniya Burtasova made it possible for Russia to earn another first place. After using five spare rounds, Sweden’s Elisabeth Hoegberg and Viktor Brandt finished second, 25.7 seconds back. Rebecca Passler and Patrck Braunfofer of Italy using 5 spares, finished 45.2 seconds behind, with another third place for their team. 

Norway drops out, Germany and Russia seize the chance

With Norway's pairing of Johannes Dale and yesterday’s winner Karoline Offigstad Knotten, all eyes were on this duo today. Keeping up the high hopes, Knotten finished her first leg in first sending Dale to the track with a very small 2-second lead over Sweden. Russia, after using three spares in the first leg, was seventh, 18.2 seconds behind. Still in the lead when entering the prone, Dale used one spare, allowing clean-shooting Justus Strelow of Germany to pass him. Germany took the lead, Norway second 8 6 seconds behind, Russia after using one spare, still in seventh position.

Things started to change in the standing stage of the second leg. While Strelow managed to keep the lead despite using one spare, Dale earned one penalty loop moving the Norwegians out of the way. Russia’s Babikov cleaned and pushed himself to second only .6 seconds behind Strelow. Exchanging in this order, Germany and Russia started the third leg together. Moldova was third at that time of the competition, Sweden fourth, Italy ninth.

Germany falters, Russia takes the win

Despite clearing the prone without any mistakes, Sweden’s Hoegberg placed second, 11.5 seconds behind Burtasova who had to use one spare round. Fruehwirt of Germany closed the targets with the help of two spares placing third. Italy’s Passler climbed up a spot and was eighth. In the sixth shooting of the day, the last standing bout of the third leg, Fruehwirt picked up three penalty loops dropping the German team to 10th position at the final exchange. Burtasova however used three spares, but still managed to make the final exchange in the lead. Sweden was second, 1.4 seconds behind. Lou Jeanmonnot of France exchanged in third, 15.6 seconds later than the Russian team. 

With all eyes on the final leg, Babikov calmly cleared the prone. Brandt used one spare, the gap between the two widened to 14.6 seconds. But as Italy’s Braunhofer cleaned without mistakes and France’s Emilien Claude used a spare, it was Italy who had climbed to third. In the final shooting of the day Babikov used one spare, but despite that kept the lead. Although Brandt scored a quick and clean zero, Babikov was too far ahead to compete for the first place. Arriving in the finish as the winning team, Babikov and Burtasova turned today into a golden double for Russia. Sweden came in second, Italy third. 

IBU Cup Obertilliach Mixed Relays

Photos: Jasmin Walter/ IBU