BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup 2016 (stage 5) - Men's Relay (4x7,5km Team race)
Norway Skis to Men’s Relay Victory
Tarjei Boe Opens Big Lead
The Norwegian relay team of Ole Einar Björndalen, Johannes Thingnes Boe, Tarjei Boe and Emil Hegle Svendsen won the men's relay this afternoon in 1:17:05. Norway used 12 spare rounds while second place Russia, with just six spares was 14.6 seconds back. Third went to Austria, with one penalty and seven spares, 35.8 seconds back.
Fourth went to France, 55.9 seconds back, with Germany coming back to get fifth, 1:51.4 back. The USA had its best relay result in years with sixth place, 2:31.1.
Winter set in once again today with light to moderate snowfall all day and temperatures just above freezing, slowing the tracks for all 25 teams. At the same time, the wind picked up just after the start, making shooting more complicated than usual in Ruhpolding.
Germany, Russia and Norway
First leg was the usual sorting out, with cautious shooting and few spare rounds; Norway being an exception as Björndalen used three spare rounds to clean prone. At the first exchange, Latvia led with Germany's Erik Lesser just a second behind. Russia and Norway lagged 19 seconds back in sixth and ninth, but in contention.
Three Penalties
Leg two and the expected four top teams in front; Germany, Norway, France and Russian all skiing close together. Johannes Kuehn with a solid prone stage led the way heading into the standing stage. However, he was shadowed by Martin Fourcade, Johannes and Evgeniy Garanichev. Fourcade and Boe quickly cleaned and Garanichev used two spares. Kuehn missed all five shots and hit two of his spares; three penalty loops for Germany! Fourcade had a spectacular run and tagged 20 seconds ahead of Johannes with Garanichev another 16 seconds in arrears. Germany lagged at two minutes back.
Tarjei Flies
Leg three Tarjei closed on the French team, but Simon Desthieux used just one spare to his three in prone and remained in the lead. Tarjei cleaned standing and got away, while Desthieux had a penalty. Eder shot clean and fast to head to the exchange in third ahead of Russia. Tarjei turned on the afterburners and pulled away to a lead of more than a 1:10 as he tagged Svendsen. France and Austria followed with Russia another 13 seconds back, but with Anton Shipulin on the anchor leg.
Spares for Svendsen
Svendsen cleaned prone with a single spare round, keeping his lead at more than a minute. Landertinger moved Austria up to second with Shipulin third after the prone stage. In standing, Svendsen wavered using all three spares, while Shipulin cleaned quickly and closed the gap to 21 seconds in second position. Landertinger left in third, 40 seconds back and the podium was set.
Great to Win
Bjorndalen commented, "It is always great to do a relay here and of course, always great to win...After being sick, my shape is good right now, but the shooting is not so good, so I need to work on that."
Tarjei, who had a spectacular leg said, "Ole Einar told the wax guys his skis were not so great so they did something for mine and they were absolutely super."
Saving Energy
Svendsen admitted that he was not too concerned by Shipulin who was closing the gap. "He was pretty far back so I was not too worried. I did not have to push that hard; tried to save some energy for the mass start tomorrow."