Junior Cup Continues In Sunny Sjusjoen

After the IBU Youth/Junior World Championships in Osrblie, several junior athletes were called up to their senior teams and had the chance to compete against the biathlon elite at the IBU OECH in Minsk-Raubichi. Some stayed in the IBU Cup circus which moved to Otepaa, while others returned to the IBU Junior Cup. The event that was scheduled for Torsby, Sweden, but was moved to Sjusjoen, Norway due to lack of snow.

Despite having little time to prepare for the competitions. The National Federation of Norway and the Sjusjøen Organizing Committee in did an excellent job.

"It was really nice to see the exelent collaboration between the Torsby Organizing Committee and Sjusjoen Organizing Committee. Some minor issues at the beginning was solved quickly and all in all is was a very well concluded third Junior Cup," commented IBU Junior Cup Race Director Arne Eidam.

The athletes and the functional team were met by sunny and great views and a 350 km network of ski trials, that several athletes decided to explore.

While others decided to enjoy some speedy sledge rides

Although Sjusjøen is the second last IBU Junior Cup this season, athletes are still making their debut on the international scene. among them Italy's Hannah Auchentaller.

The Junior men started the first competition day; a familiar face was seen on the top of the podium, the rising Slovenian star Alex Cisar, shooting clean and crossing the line in 25:04.8; winning once again after two individual Gold medals at the IBU YJWCH. Behind him, 2018 Junior Pursuit World Champion, Russia's Andrei Viukhin, who despite missed four shots managed to finish second. Switzerland's, Nico Salutt finished in a career best third place, with a single penalty.

It is a very nice start after the World Championsships, we had two weeks off so I trained alot and this win is a big confidance booster for next week, said Cisar.

In the women's competition, Sweden's Amanda Lundstroem shot clean to grab the win in 21:47 Bulgaria's Milena Todorova followed in second, just 4.7 seconds back with a single penalty, less than a week after competing at the OECH, Ukraine's IBU Junior Cup veteran Anna Kryvonos, also with one penalty finished third.

Lundstroem was happy with how her day turned out. "This was a perfect race, I was a bit tired this morning when I woke up, so I really did not know what to expect but, I had really good skis and I felt good, it was a very good competition."

The very next day the athletes lined up at the up; number one Germany's Tim Grotian cleaned prone, missed once in standing, to finish first in 25:50. No one could match the German, but Italy's Tommaso Giacomel, also sith one penalty in second place was closest, finishing 7.1 seconds back. Norway's Filip Andersen who broke his leg in October and only started full training a month ago had two standing penalties, but finished third, 8.1 seconds back.

Grotian admitted, "Starting first was cool, yesterday my shooting was very bad, I am very happy about competition today all in all it was very good."

In the women's competition, the podium was separated by only 5 seconds. Russia's late starter 2018 Junior Pursuit World Champion, Anastasiia Goreeva, after a standing penalty, produced a great last lap to finish in 21:56.1. That put the Russian just 3.7 seconds ahead of Bulgaria's Milena Todorova, also with a standing penalty once again had to settling with seconds place. The IBU Junior Cup Total Score leader Germany's Hanna Kebinger finish third to extend that lead; although she shot clean, the German finished 5 seconds behind Goreeva.

Goreeva commented on her closely contested victory. "I was worried before the start, I heard on the speaker that my competitors were shooting zero or one mistakes. Looking at yesterday's result I did not think I would manage to shoot so well today."

The Juniors will stay in Sjusjøen for one more week where the Junior Open European Championships will close the season. The expected arrival of athletes the IBU Cup will add to the competitiveness and the excitement next week. Those final competitions will determine the IBU Junior Cup Total Score winners.

IBU JOECH Schedule:

06 MAR 2019 10:00 Junior Men 15 km Individual Competition

06 MAR 2019 13:30 Junior Women 12.5 km Individual Competition

07 MAR 2019 10:00 Single Mixed Relay Juniors (W-M)

07 MAR 2019 13:00 2x6+2x7.5 Mixed Relay Juniors (W-M)

09 MAR 2019 10:00 Junior Men 10 km Sprint Competition

09 MAR 2019 13:00 Junior Women 7.5 km Sprint Competition

10 MAR 2019 10:00 Junior Men 12.5 km Pursuit Competition

10 MAR 2019 13:00 Junior Women 10 km Pursuit Competition

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