Franziska Preuß encountered a setback in Nove Mesto, finishing 15th in the sprint, while rival Lou Jeanmonnot closed the gap in the overall standings. Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold won the sprint, showcasing remarkable shooting and speed, with Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Julia Simon rounding out the podium. Preuß expressed disappointment over her performance but remains determined, as the competition for the overall title intensifies with six races remaining this winter.
Franziska Preuß’s Challenge in Nove Mesto
Franziska Preuß faced a minor setback in her quest for the overall title during the World Cup event in Nove Mesto, finishing in 15th place during the sprint. The Bavarian athlete found herself at a disadvantage as her rival, Lou Jeanmonnot, performed notably better, closing the gap in the overall standings.
Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold’s Stellar Performance
The sprint victory was claimed by Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, who showcased exceptional skill at the shooting range and impressive speed on the course. The Norwegian secured her win ahead of three competitors from France, with Justine Braisaz-Bouchet taking second place (+15.1 seconds / 1 error) and Julia Simon following closely in third (+20.9 seconds / 0 errors). Lou Jeanmonnot narrowly missed the podium, finishing in fourth (+27.1 seconds / 1 error).
Preuß’s time of 54.1 seconds behind the leader marked a disappointing day for the athlete, who had started third in the 7.5-kilometer race. The best performance from Germany came from Selina Grotian, who placed tenth (+47.2 seconds / 1 error). Reflecting on her performance, Preuß noted, “To be at the very front, one would have had to shoot zero today,” but expressed overall satisfaction with her result.
Preuß began the race strong, hitting all five targets in her first shooting and taking an early lead. However, nerves got the better of her during the second shooting, resulting in a missed shot and a penalty loop. Despite this setback, Preuß managed to gain some ground in the final stretch of the race, although she acknowledged that a podium finish was out of reach.
With this performance, the competition for the crystal globe intensifies, particularly between Preuß and Jeanmonnot. “In the back of my mind, it’s already ticking,” Preuß admitted, acknowledging the pressure she feels. However, she remains focused and determined, with six races still ahead this winter.
Fans can keep track of all upcoming biathlon events, from the World Cup in Kontiolahti to the World Championships in Lenzerheide and the season finale in Oslo, by downloading the biathlon calendar on their smartphones.
The Nove Mesto World Cup weekend continues, with the sprint events generating significant excitement. In addition, the Nordic Ski World Championships in Trondheim are entering a critical phase, where the DSV team is experiencing an unexpected surge of medals.