Samuelsson Flies to Oestersund Pursuit Win

Three penalties did nothing to deter Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson from claiming victory in this afternoon’s Oestersund Men’s 12.5 km Pursuit in 31:38.4. Samuelsson, flying on his skis repeatedly came back from the penalties, leaving the loop in high gear after a last standing miss and pulling away from Germany’s sprint winner Philipp Nawrath for the victory.

“Everybody was cheering for me”

Samuelsson felt the crowd helped him get his third career victory at home. “It was very special. There were a lot of spectators here today; it was amazing. I felt that everybody was cheering for me. It was a fantastic day!”

As for his skiing away the penalties, “In the tracks, I had to do it by myself from the beginning, because I always had one mistake in the shooting. I am happy that I pushed myself. I think that was the key today when my shooting was not perfect.”

Watch Highlights Here

Nawrath Retains Yellow Bib

Nawrath led most of the competition until his last standing stage penalty pushed him to second place, 5.1 seconds back, just enough to retain the Yellow Bib by a single point over Samuelsson. Franziska Preuss and Nawrath give Germany both Yellow Bibs as the BMW IBU World Cup circuit heads to Hochfilzen. Norway’s Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, with one penalty earned his first individual podium of the season in third place, 7.2 seconds back.

The last Oestersund competition had similar conditions at -14C with light winds as the women earlier. Nawrath led the first loop, shot fast and clean, going out alone 31.5 seconds ahead of the also clean Tarje. Behind them Fabien Claude and Christiansen also cleaned in third and fourth, with Samuelsson fifth after a penalty.

Nawrath cleaned the second prone and was gone from the range stretching his lead to 40 seconds before Tarjei and Samuelsson shot side-by-side. Tarjei retained second with a clean stage while the Swede went to the penalty loop; Vebjoern Soerum, Christiansen and Claude cleaned, moving ahead of Samuelsson again.

The trailing chase pack was with Tarjei coming to the first standing stage. The leader missed a shot, retaining the advantage but Tarjei, Samuelsson and Claude cleaned, leaving, 19, and 23 seconds back.

Standing Stages Decisive

Samuelsson closed to 10 seconds back by the 8.8 km split, leaving Tarjei, and setting up a last standing duel for the win with Nawrath. The top three went for one penalty loop, but Christiansen cleaned. Samuelsson flew out off the loop with Nawrath 1.4 seconds back and Christiansen 7 seconds back. The 2023 IBU Mass Start World Champion continued to pull away, taking his first win of the new season.

BMW IBU World Cup 1 Oestersund Men's 12.5 km Pursuit

Christiansen’s teammates Tarjei Boe and Endre Stroemsheim, with one and two penalties, respectively finished fourth and fifth, 29.6 38.2 seconds back. Sweden’s Martin Ponsiluoma, finished sixth, with two penalties, 42.5 seconds back.

Photos: IBU/Per Danielsson, Nordic Focus

Share this article