France and Norway win gold in the mixed relay

The first day of the IBU Youth and Junior World Championships in Otepaa was dominated by the mixed relays. France was the best team in the youth category, while Norway secured the title in the junior category.

The French team of Leo Carlier, Antonin Guy, Voldiya Galmace Paulin, and Alice Dusserre wins the first gold medal at the IBU Youth and Junior World Championships in Otepaa with a lead of 1:51 minutes. With only one penalty and nine reloads, they were the best youth team at the shooting range on the day. The defending champions from Norway finished in second place with Oliver Alm, Kasper Kalkenberg, Silje Berg-Knutsen and Agathe Brathagen. Their starting skier Oliver Alm shot two penalty loops, so that the Norwegian team had to fight their way forward during the race. The bronze medal went to the Czech Republic with Vladimir Kocmanek, David Elias, Ilona Plechacova and Heda Mikolasova. Final skier Heda Mikolasasova secured the medal at the last shooting.

Poland led at half-time of the race

Jakub Potoniec from Poland made a great start to the race. He only needed one reload in the standing stage and was the first to hand over to his teammate Grzegorz Galica at the changeover. Galica was also able to hold his own and ran together with Antonin Guy on the lap. Despite three reloads at the second shooting, he was able to leave the Frenchman behind and hand over in first place. However, Amelia Liszka and Majka Germata were unable to maintain their team's outstanding position. In the end, the Polish team finished in seventh place.

Norway confidently wins the junior mixed relay

The team from Norway with Sivert Gerhardsen, Isak Frey, Maren Brannare-Gran and Gro Randby was unbeatable in the junior mixed relay. The first three skiers came through the race without a penalty loop and so Maren Brannare-Gran handed over to the final skier Gro Randby with a lead of almost two minutes. Although Randby missed two penalty loops at the last shooting, she was able to save the victory at the finish. Germany finished in second place. Marlene Fichtner came within 13 seconds of the Norwegian, securing the silver medal for Leonard Pfund, Linus Kesper and Julia Tannheimer.

Bronze medal only decided at the last shooting

The team from Poland was also able to impress in the juniors. The team was in third place until the last shooting. But Anna Andexer made up 25 seconds on Barbara Skrobiszewska on the final lap and celebrated the silver medal with Oliver Lienbacher, Fabian Müllauer and Lara Wagner. France finished the race in fifth place.