The Norwegian team of Tarjei Boe, Johannes Boe, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold and Marte Olsbu Roeiseland were unchallenged in a virtual wire-to-wire Oberhof mixed relay win this afternoon. The foursome used six spare rounds in their 1:28:51.4 victory. Belarus, with five spares finished second, 23.1 seconds back. France, with a sterling anchor leg by Julia Simon finished third, with eleven spares, 2:01.3 back.

Sweden, with three penalties and ten spares, with Elvira Oeberg bringing her team from ninth at the final exchange to fourth place, 2:08.4 back. Russia, with nine spares, finished fifth, 2:08.9 back while Germany with six spares finished sixth, 2:10.7 back.

Tarjei sets the table

After the snow and wind during yesterday’s sprints, the first mixed relays of the season got a break with very light wind on the range, -3C, simply overcast skies but the snow that continued overnight left the tracks a bit soft and slow. Tarjei shot carefully in the first prone stage, going 5-for-5, getting away in front of the 24 teams, with Belarus and Switzerland following. In standing, Labastau put Belarus in front momentarily, after using a single spare round, while Tarjei needed two to clean. Once back on the tracks, the Norwegian veteran took control, setting the table for the win, tagging his brother just .4 seconds ahead of Russia, with Germany and Belarus next but 16 seconds back.

JT opens the gap

JT with Russia’s Alexander Povarnitsyn in his shadow pushed the pace into their prone stage, extending the gap by several seconds until the Norwegian pulled away just before the stadium. JT got away with a 17-second lead over the Russian after using just one spare in prone. By the standing stage, Norway’s lead was up to more than 30 seconds. One spare round and JT was on his way before anyone else was even on their mat. Anton Smolski cleaned in five shots, leaving in second but 29.1 seconds back, with the also clean-shooting Povarnitsyn alongside.

Pressure-free Tandrevold

Tandrevold took the tag 35 seconds in front of Alimbekava with Vanessa Voigt next, but 48 seconds back. Under no pressure, Tandrevold cleaned in five shots and was gone. Alimbekava and Irina Kazekevich matched but were a distant 34 seconds and 1:08 back. Like JT, Tandrevold used a single spare to clean, as did Alimbekava. Wierer opened the door for Italy with a single spare, while Voigt cleaned, moving Italy into third and fourth position ahead of Russia heading to the final exchange.

Olsbu Roeiseland seals the win

Olsbu Roeiseland left the stadium for the anchor leg with a 24-secomd gap on Hanna Sola with Lisa Vittozzi, Vanessa Hinz and Valeria Vasnetcova following next but 1:30 back. Sola pushed hard closing the gap down to 15 seconds by the prone stage. However, the Total Score leader fired off five quick shots and was gone before her Belarusian rival fired a shot. Sola used a spare, falling to 25 seconds back. Hinz shot clean to remain in third with Vasnetcova after a spare round just two seconds behind; still the battlers for the last podium spot were almost two minutes behind leading Norway. The Belarusian again battled back on the tracks, grabbing valuable seconds before the standing stage. Olsbu Roeiseland needed a spare round to seal the wind while Sola used two, securing second place.

Simon brings France to third place

The battle would be for the last podium spot. Julia Simon with her usual aggression on the tracks came to the range in third, fired four fast perfect shots but needed two spares to hold third position, leaving for the final loop 9.6 seconds ahead of Hinz, setting the podium with France in third place.

“Happy when I saw what she (Julia Simon) did”

According to third leg Anais Bescond, “Today was a tough relay, long 7.5 km for the girls is unusual; it is usually 6 km in relays. I prefer the 2 km loop especially in this track with slow snow, warmer than yesterday…My shape is not what I would like but I tried hard to keep up and am really happy with this result…I tried to stay a reasonable distance to the podium for Julia because I know what she was able to do. I trust my teammates. I was really happy when I saw what she did but also I thank the boys because it was not easy for them; a good team effort."

Smolski pleased with his shooting

Smolski was quite pleased with his effort on the shooting range today that helped his team to second place. “I am very satisfied with my work today. I am also satisfied with my shooting because I did not use any spare rounds and I could get closer to the other teams and hand over in second place.” Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni