Alpine Skiing and Biathlon 2020/21

First topic message reminder :

Hopefully some of this will be happening! As a starter, here's a rather belated comment on the season opener at Sölden in mid October.

17 Oct 20: Sölden, Women’s Giant Slalom: Missed run 1 – Marta Bassino seems to have been fastest there, ahead of Federica Brignone and Mina Fuerst Holtmann; last year’s winner Alice Robinson joint 4th,  fastest with Petra Vlhova in 10th, +2.02.  Nice to see Alex Tilley getting a second run. Apparently the visibility wasn’t good on run 1; it’s better now on the second run set by an Italian coach. It’s steep at the start, but it does look very flat at the end – need to carry the speed over that section! Kaya Norbye [NOR] is first away; Valerie Grenier [CAN, bib 58!] can’t match her. Alex Tilley was 1.03 in the green but a massive error has spoilt that run! Next is Ester Ledecka [CZE] and she’s 0.65 faster to take over the lead. Ana Bucik [SLO] into 2nd; not for long though as Andrea Ellenberger [SUI] is gaining time all the way – she takes the lead by 1.50 seconds! That’s surely going to take some beating!? Ekaterina Tkachenko [RUS bib 67!] into 2nd; Liensberger [AUT] the first DNF on run 2 – very athletic recovery! Romane Miradoli [FRA] was the highest bib number [68] to qualify for run 2, and she’s going really well – into 2nd, just 0.15 off the pace! Nina O’ Brien [USA] into 3rd; that’s 10 away – Ellenberger leads from Miradoli and O’ Brien. Sara Hector [SWE] lost all her advantage by the first intermediate and was 0.54 in the red at inter 2 – good lower section though to pull back into 3rd, +0.17. Another great run from a high bib number – Paula Moltzan [USA, bib 62] takes the lead by a massive 0.73 – very impressive! Tessa Worley [FRA] was probably unlucky with the visibility on run 1 – she’s more in touch this time and despite losing time on the final section she’s into the lead by just 0.02! She probably hadn’t reached the leader’s chair when Meta Hrovat [SLO] took over the top spot by 0.32! Austria aren’t having a good day at their home race – Truppe into joint 7th, Siebenhofer currently 10th with  Gritsch 15th and Liensberger a DNF. Petra Vlhova [SVK] also had trouble on run 1 – her second run  is much better, gaining time all the way to lead by 1.34. Austria’s woes continue – Steph Brunner into 10th. Eight to go – Vlhova leads from Hrovat and Worley. Sofia Goggia [ITA], back from injury, into joint 2nd, +1.34; nightmare for Wendy Holdener [SUI] with a huge error really early on – into 20th! Lara Gut-Behrami [SUI] into 4th; now it’s last year’s winner – Alice Robinson [NZL], with a healthy advantage of 0.84 at the start – gaining slightly to inter 1 but the bumps have got her too and she’s into 8th.  Michelle Gisin [SUI] has also gone from green at 1 to red at 2 – she was +0.59 at inter 3 but a great final section has pulled her back into 2nd, +0.17. Holtmann [NOR] has lost time from inter 1 – into 3rd; now it’s Federica Brignone [ITA], with a massive 1.44 in hand – it’s being eroded but she still has 0.63 in hand at inter 3, and a great final section has pulled back time – she leads by 0.99, and that’s the 2nd best time on run 2 as well!  Just Marta Bassino [ITA] to go – 0.58 in hand at the start; 0.74 at inter 1 – she lost a bit on the flat final section but she had enough to spare – she wins by just 0.14; an Italian one two! So, Marta Bassino wins, ahead of Federica Brignone with Petra Vlhova [best time on run 2] in 3rd. Gisin in 4th, ahead of Holtmann with Goggia and Hrovat tied in 6th.

18 Oct 20: Sölden, Men’s Giant Slalom: Missed run 1 on purpose – too many entries!! Gino Caviezel [SUI] fastest on run 1 ahead of Zan Kranjec [SLO] and Henrik Kristoffersen [NOR] – all very close though! Apparently Kilde crashed on run 1, sounds as though he is OK though. Conditions look good today; run 2 set by a Slovenian coach, I think. River Radamus [USA] gets the second run started – interesting to see Vincent Kriechmayr [AUT] has qualified for run 2; despite a few impressive recoveries he’s into the lead! Adam Zampa [SVK] into 3rd; Erik Read [CAN] is looking good – gaining time all the way and he leads by 0.82. Daniele Sette [SUI] into 2nd; Roberto Nani [ITA] goes 3rd.  That was a good run from Stefan Luitz [GER] – he takes over the lead by 0.37; not for long though – Giovanni Borsotti was right on the edge all the way but he survived to take the lead! Sam Maes [BEL] into 3rd, and then  it’s Manny Mölgg [ITA] back from injury – into 6th. Stefan Brennsteiner [AUT] is the last hope for Austria today – he’s into 3rd; that’s not going to go down well in the local press! Justin Murisier [SUI] has had a good run – into the lead; that’s the half way point of run 2 – Murisier leads from Borsotti and Luitz. That’s a close run  thing – Thibaut Favrot [FRA] swapping between red and green lights – crucially it’s green at the finish! No change to the podium places for a while, then Filip Zubcic [CRO] goes 3rd; Ted Ligety has lost a ski and he’s out. Great start by Luca de Aliprandini [ITA] but he’s losing time from inter 1 and is red by 3 – he goes into 2nd. Leif Kristian Nestvold-Haugen [NOR] has doubled his advantage by inter 1 but then he starts to lose time – still 0.17 left at the line and he leads! That’s a superb run from Marco Odermatt [SUI] – gaining all the way down to lead by 0.99 – no surprise that he’s the fastest so far on run 2 so far as well. Loic Meillard [SUI] also in touch – he’s into 2nd; Lucas Braathen [NOR] started well, just red at inter 3 but he’s pulled back a little on the final flatter stage to take the lead by just 0.05! Nick has tipped Alexis Pinturault [FRA] today, but an early error cost him time – he’s into 3rd.  Next is Henrik Kristoffersen [NOR] – for some reason he doesn’t seem to go well here; he’s into joint 4th but that still might be a PB for him here? Two to go – Zan Kranjec [SLO] is on the course – he’s red at inter 1, redder at 2, pulled a bit back to 3 but just 6th at the line! So, just Gino Caviezel [SUI] to go – that tricky under gate has caught him too; 0.79 behind at inter 2 but he’s pulled it back a bit – he’s 3rd! So, Lucas Braathen wins the opening GS, ahead of Marco Odermatt and Gino Caviezel. Alexis Pinturault in 4th, ahead of Loic Meillard and Henrik Kristoffersen in joint 5th.

In the Lech Zürs parallel slalom event Alexis Pinturault beat Henrik Kristoffersen in the final, with Alex Schmidt in third; the women’s race was won by Petra Vlhova – her third win from three races – ahead of Paula Moltzan [USA], who didn’t finish the big final. Nice to Lara Gut-Behrami taking 3rd – her first podium in almost 4 years.

Östersund; Women’s 7.5 Km Sprint, 19 Mar 21: Looks a fair day – Hanna Öberg first away. At 1.3 Km Alimbekava is fast; Lucie Charvátová even faster but maybe too fast? Hanna Öberg is in for S1 – 2 misses! Alimbekava clear and out in the lead; Doro Wierer also clear and out 1.3 behind; Öberg out after her loops in 5th, +53.0. Lucie Charvátová has missed 3 at S1. Dzhima has missed her 5th shot; Knotten clear and out 3rd, +5.7. Justine Braisaz-Bouchet fast at 1.3 Km, but Hanna Sola is even quicker. Vittozzi has missed 1 at S1; Dzinara Alimbekava at S2 and she’s missed her last shot! Hanna Öberg has missed 1 more; Lena Haecki is 10/10 and out 8.5 ahead of Alimbekava. Doro is shooting fast again today and she’s 10/10 and 14.7 ahead of Haecki; Knotten also 10/10 but +19.2. Back at S1 Tandrevold is clear and out +4.3; Sola has missed 1, not helped by the stadium announcer mentioning her name right in the middle of her shoot! Anais Chevalier-Bouchet is clear at S1 and now she leads out! On the last lap Doro Wierer is going well; she’s over the line in the lead, 20.5 ahead of Haecki with Alimbekava currently 3rd. Knotten has missed 2 at S2, but Tandrevold is clear and out just 8.2 behind Wierer. Anais C-B at S2 – she’s missed her 4th shot – out 4th, +17.0. Meanwhile Milena Todorova is 10/10 and in touch. At 6.3 Km Tandrevold is just 3.5 behind Wierer; at S1 Hauser is clear and out +just 1.3. Tiril Eckhoff has started! Looks as though Tandrevold might have pushed too hard, too early on her final lap – she’s over the line in 2nd, 4.2 behind Doro! Hauser has missed 1 at S2, but she’s still out 4th, +14.8. Anais C-B over the finish line in 3rd despite her 1 miss. Back at S1 Denise Herrmann has missed 1; Røiseland has also missed 1. Tiril Eckhoff at S1, clear and out 4.1 ahead of Anais C-B’s time; Linn Persson also clear and 4th. Franzi Preuß missed 1 at S1, and she’s just missed her final shoot at S2. Interesting to see Stina Nilsson [SWE] , a very experienced cross country skier, racing biathlon – she’s got all 5 at S1 too, out 5th, +8.9 and it’s started to snow a little. Ida Lien has gone 10/10, but out 7th, +22.2; Persson has missed 1 at S2. Røiseland is at S2 – very fast shooting and all 5 down; she’s out 6th, +18.2. Here’s Eckhoff at S2 and she’s missed 1 this time; out just 5.5 behind Wierer! Stina Nilsson has missed 1 at S2 – that’s good but her poor drills are costing her time – out 22nd, +58. Franzi Preuß over the line 15th, +48.0; Hanna Öberg currently 33rd, - those 2 fighting for a top 3 place in the standings! Back on the final lap Tiril Eckhoff was +4.4 at 6.3 Km; at 7.1 she’s just +0.6 behind. Tiril over the line 2.5 ahead and that’s looking to be 7 consecutive sprint wins! I think she’s already won the sprint, pursuit and overall globes! Currently there are 3 Norwegians in the top 6 – Tiril in 1, Tandrevold in 3 and Røiseland 6. Stina Nilsson over the line in 24th, just ahead of Vanessa Hinz! At present it’s Eckhoff, Wierer, Tandrevold, Chevalier-Bouchet, Hauser and Røiseland. Best German is Janina Hettich [0,0], presently 17th; Hanna Öberg currently 46th and out of the points today. There are some big names off the pace today - Mironova currently 24th, with just 5 athletes to finish, Herrmann 34th, Dzhima [1,1] in 40th, Elvira Öberg [2,1] 48, Hanna Öberg [2,1] 52, Justine B-B [2,2] 58, Davidova [1,2] 70, and Dunklee [3,3] 98th!! That’s it – no late changes to the top 10 since Eckhoff took the lead! Well done Tiril – 7 back to back sprint wins is astonishing!

Östersund; Men’s 10 Km Sprint, 19 Mar 21: This is tough – more climbing than in the women’s course! Some light snow falling as they wait to start – JoBø will be first away, which might not be ideal – there are also rumours that he’s been changing the rifle? Sturla Holm Laegreid is bib 12 today so he’ll have a good idea of how JoBø is getting on as the race progresses – the snow seems to be getting a little heavier? JoBø in for S1 and the breeze has got up since they zeroed; he’s missed 2. Sergey Bocharnikov [BLR] clear and briefly in the lead until Lukas Hofer clears and leaves the range 14.1 ahead – he’s only 34.6 ahead of JoBø though. At 2.1 Km Laegreid is 15.2 behind JoBø’s time; Tarjei is just 9.1 back. Martin Ponsiluoma clear at S1 and 3.3 faster than Hofer; Laegreid also clear but out +13.0. At 6.2 Km Hofer is pretty much matching JoBø on time. Tarjei Bø is clear at S1; his brother is at S2 and very quick – clear this time and away! That was impressive – Lukas Hofer 10/10 and quick – he’s out 41.5 ahead of JoBø! Felix Leitner clear at S1, out +14.7; Ponsiluoma in for S2 but he’s missed his first shot – 2 misses here. Back at S1 Seb Samuelsson is clear, despite a bit of snow in the sights – even so he’s out +4.2. Laegreid is 10/10 and out +15.1 against Hofer, that puts him about 30m seconds ahead of JoBø. On the lap Hofer is gaining time on JoBø – he’s over the line 46.1 ahead! Tarjei Bø is 10/10 and out just ahead of Laegreid – if he beats him that will help little brother in the overall; Laegreid is losing time to both Hofer and Johannes on the final lap. Leitner has missed his final shot at S2; Tarjei Bø has closed about 4 seconds on Hofer by 8.8 Km; it looks like he will beat Laegreid. Back at S2 Seb Samuelsson is also 10/10 and out just 5.1 behind Hofer. Laegreid over the line but he’s lost about 15 seconds to Hofer on that lap. Tarjei over the line in 2nd, +14.4, JoBø in 4th at present behind Laegreid, who really needs other athletes to finish behind him, but ahead of JoBø! At 8.8 Km Samuelsson is just 3.8 behind Hofer. Back at S1 QFM is clear and out +3.1 – he’s just ahead of Hofer and Samuelsson. After S2 Roman Rees is best German, 10/10 and +43.6; Seb Samuelsson over the finish line in 2nd, +4.0. Jacquelin clear at S1 and only fractionally slower than Samuelsson; at S2 Simon Desthieux is 10/10 and out +16.1. Good work by Thierry Langer [BEL] – 10/10 and just 39 seconds off the ace at S2. QFM has missed 1 at S2 – out 6th, +21.5. Johannes Dale [1,1] over the line 6th, just behind JoBø – at S2 Jacquelin has missed his final 2 shots. Simon Desthieux over the line 4th; snow now larger flakes and a bit wet which won’t help the later starters. Back at S1 Guigonnat and Andersen [NOR] are clear and in touch; Andersen has missed 1 at S2. That’s interesting, QFM [0,1] has crossed the line 5th, ahead of both Laegreid and JoBø. That might be it – Guigonnat has missed 2 at S2. At present there are 4 Norwegians in the top 10 – Tarjei [3], Laegreid [6], JoBø [7], Dale [8]. That’s all the athletes through S2; that’s’ a really well deserved win for Lukas Hofer – clean shooting and impressive ski speed. Seb Samuelsson in 2nd, also with clean shooting and just 4.0 behind; Tarjei in 3rd another 10 seconds back – again with no misses. Desthieux in 4th, ahead of QFM and Laegreid, then JoBø, Dale, Iliev and Rees. Seb Samuelsson fastest around the course, just 0.9 ahead of Hofer, then Dale, JoBø, QFM and Tarjei.

Östersund; Women’s 10 Km Pursuit, 20 Mar 21: A lot of tired athletes today, I suspect – at 1.6 Km Tiril Eckhoff is just 0.6 ahead of Tandrevold, with Doro 3rd. It’s quite windy today so the shooting is going to be interesting! That is windy – in for S1 – Tandrevold clear and away, ahead of Hauser and Haecki, then Sola and Røiseland – all clear. Tiril has missed 1 and out 6th, + 23.7 and just ahead of Wierer and Alimbekava who also missed 1 each. Hanna Öberg clear and up from 52 to 24. In for S2 – the wind is all over the place; Tandrevold has missed 1, and 2 more. Røiseland has got all 5 down and she leads out 15.8 ahead of Sola [1 miss] and Herrmann [0,0], +43.3. Tandrevold is +59.9 in 8th, Hauser [0,3] in 14th, ahead of Eckhoff [1,2] and Alimbekava [1,2]. Hanna Öberg has also missed 3 here; Doro 2 more and Haecki also 3. At 5.6 Km Røiseland is now 30.9 ahead of Sola and she’s pulled out 15 seconds on Herrmann as well; Julia Simon up to 4thjsdut ahead of Franzi Preuß. Marte Olsbu Røiseland is in for S3, 2 misses – Sola is doing 3 loops here! Herrmann has missed 2, and 2 more! Julia Simon [2,0,1] out 2nd, up from 22nd, +51.7, just ahead of Tiril Eckhoff [1,2,0], +54.9. Hanna Sola in 4th ahead of Aita Gasparin and Anais C-B. At 7.6 Km Røiseland is 52.7 ahead of Eckhoff who is now past Simon. Sola is losing time, as is Franzi Preuß who is up to 5th. Røiseland in for the last shoot and it’s really windy – 2 misses. Simon has missed 2, Eckhoff 1, not sure about Sola as 1 target is still standing but no yellow flash? Preuß has missed 2 and she waited ages for the last shot. Røiseland out 20.9 ahead of Eckhoff, with Sola 3rd, +41.3, just ahead of Simon. Kalkenberg [NOR; 0,1,1,0] in 5th from 21st, then Kuklina. Preuß down to 8th. I think Tiril has given up the chase – she’s losing a little time on the lap. Marte Olsbu Røiseland [0,0,2,2] takes the win, from 6th at the start; Tiril Eckhoff [1,2,0,1] in 2nd ahead of Hanna Sola [0,1,3,1], up from 13th with Julia Simon [2,0,1,2] 4th from 22nd. Emilie Aagheim Kalkenberg 5th from 21 with Franzi Preuß getting 6th from 23rd. Other gainers include Ivona Fialkova [33 to 7], Kruchinkina [30-9], Kuklina [29-10], Knotten [54-13],
Zdouc [46-14], Elvira Öberg [48-16], Hinz [27-19], Voigt [GER, 57-25], and Justine B-B [58-36]. Going the wrong way the list includes Doro Wierer [1,2,2,2; 2nd to 18th], Hauser [5-21], Tandrevold [0,3,3,3; 3 – 23], Alimbekava [11-27], Chevalier [12-29], Anais C-B [4-32], Paulina Fialkova [10-33], Talihaerm [19-38], and Bescond [25-56]. Hanna Öberg [0,3,3,3] started 52nd and finished 54th; Denise Herrmann [0,0,4,2] started 34th and finished 28th. Well done to the top 3 – great result in very tricky conditions!

Östersund; Men’s 12.5 Km Pursuit, 20 Mar 21: If the wind conditions are like they were in the women’s race, they won’t be looking forward to this one! Lukas Hofer away with Seb Samuelsson hot on his heels! This one is important for the overall and the pursuit globes! It seems the wind has eased, although it is still changeable. On the early lap JoBø has gained about 15 seconds on Laegreid, and he’s right up with him. The two leaders are in for S1 – Samuelsson quicker and he’s away with all 5 down; Hofer and Tarjei have missed 1; QFM and Desthieux have missed 3 each as the wind changes completely. Laegreid has missed 1, JoBø clear! Samuelsson leads out, 25.9 ahead of Hofer, then JoBø in 3rd, +38.6 ahead of Tarjei, +42.5. Laegreid in 5th, +59.8 just ahead of Latypov. On the lap JoBø is closing down Hofer, but not so much on Samuelsson; Laegreid is losing time. Samuelsson in for S2 – 2 misses; Hofer clear here and he leads out, JoBø clear and out just 9.7 off the lead. Samuelsson in 3rd, +15.6 ahead of Tarjei, +20.3 and Laegreid, who was clear here - +37.3. On the lap JoBø is right up with Hofer, Samuelsson and Tarjei have lost a little, Laegreid steady now, Jacquelin 10/10 and up to 6th from 24 at present. Leading 2 in for S3 – wind has picked up again; Hofer has missed 2, JoBø clear and away. Samuelsson has 2 misses, so has Tarjei, Laegreid 1 – Jacquelin looking good but he’s missed the last 2. After S3 JoBø is 40.3 ahead of Lukas Hofer with Laegreid 3rd, +1:01.3. Samuelsson [0,2,2] in 4th and just 2.5 behind Laegreid with Erik Lesser [15/15] up to 5th, ahead of Tarjei [1,0,2]. JoBø is still pulling away – at 9.6 Km he’s 49.2 ahead – easily 2 penalty loops! Lesser up to 3rd, from 33, ahead of Laegreid and Samuelsson – Ponsiluoma up to 6th from 14. JoBø in for his final shoot – he’s missed the first and third, and the fifth as well! Hofer has missed 1, Laegreid is clear, Lesser has missed 2 and Tarjei 3. Laegreid [1,0,1,0] leads out, Hofer [1,0,2,1] +16.4, JoBø [0,0,0,3] +17.2, then Samuelsson +47.8, Ponsiluoma, and Lesser. On the lap JoBø is past Hofer, who is fading, but he’s not catching Laegreid at the 11.3 Km point. At 12.1 Km Laegreid is 17.9 ahead; Hofer looks safe for the last podium place? Sturla Holm Laegreid takes the pursuit win, just ahead of JoBø with Hofer in 3rd. Samuelsson has just held off Lesser with Ponsiluoma 6th. Gainers include Lesser [33-5], Leitner [20-8], Pidruchnyi [34-13], Jacquelin [24-14], Loginov [26-15], Fak [32-16], Fabien Claude [47-17!], Florent Claude [44-25], Nawrath [42-26], Femling [43-29], Zobel [52-32], Andersen [58-35], and Giacomel [55-39]. Going the wrong way are Tarjei [3-10], Rees [10-20], QFM [5-27], Dale [8-28], Brown [22-38], Windisch [27-40], Eliseev [21-45], Iliev [9-48!], Kobonoki [28-53], Langer [15-56], and Nelin [36-59; 10 misses]. That makes the overall points both interesting and complicated!

Östersund;  Women’s 12.5 Km Mass Start, 21 Mar 21: Well, for some reason the start times have been postponed for the Mass Starts – probably bad weather! Three consecutive days of racing; Mass Start globe still up for grabs today! Looking at Tiril’s hair it’s a windy day again – race on. The Öberg sisters well to the front, accompanied by Norwegians; at 2.1 Km Elvira leads from Røiseland, Eckhoff and Davidova – less than a second between them. In for S1 – it’s gusty and shifting – Davidova clear and out ahead of Doro Wierer and Kalkenberg, then Preuß, Hettich and Hinz – all clear. Lots of misses – Røiseland, Eckhoff, Herrmann and Haecki among those with 2 misses; Elvira Öberg has 3 as do Persson, Justine B-B and Vittozzi, Julia Simon has missed 4. At 4.6 Km Doro is right up with Davidova, then a 9 second or so gap to Preuß and Tandrevold, then another small gap to Hettich, Kalkenberg and Hinz.  In for S2 and Davidova is now at the windy end of the range. Leaders all missing at least 1; Dzhima 10/10 and she leads out, 3.4 ahead of Davidova [1 miss], Wierer [1], Preuß [1], Sola [2] and Tandrevold [1]. Kalkenberg has missed 3, as has Hinz; Hanna Öberg [1,3] in 20th just ahead of her sister [3,2], Hauser [2,2] and Herrmann [2,2]. Julia Simon [4,5] and over 3 minutes back. On the lap Davidova is just past Dzhima, then Doro, Sola, Franzi P and Tandrevold. First standing shoot, Sola has missed 3 already but she isn’t alone; the penalty loop is getting crowded! Dzinara Alimbekava [1,2,0] clear this time and out 13.3 ahead of Doro [0,1,2], Janina Hettich [0,1,1], then Sola [3 this time], Persson [3,0,0] and Mironova [1,1,1]. Preuß missed 4 at that shoot, as did Dzhima, out 11th and 14th respectively. Eckhoff [2,3,1] out right on Preuß’s shoulder. At 9.6 Km Alimbekava has doubled her lead over Wierer; Sola 3rd, then Persson, Mironova and Hettich – that’s quite a pace! Leader in for the final shoot – wind now from the front – 3 misses from Alimbekava but she was quick; Doro is waiting for ages and she’s wasting too much time – she’s still waiting and Alimbekava is out of the loops! After the final shoot it’s Alimbekava [1,2,0,3], Tandrevold [0,1,3,1; +5.1], Haecki [2,2,1,2], Preuß [0,1,4,1; +14.4], Kaisheva, +222.4 and Sola, +14.4 – Wierer is out 25th, +2:07.7! Tandrevold is past Alimbekava at 11.3 Km, with Preuß in touch, then Haecki, Kaisheva and Sola. Tandrevold looks set to win this one – can Franzi catch Alimbekava? Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold gets her first world cup win, Dzinara Alimbekava holds off Franzi Preuß to get 2nd with the German 3rd. Lena Haecki in 4th ahead of Kaisheva and Sola. Eckhoff in 7th, Hettich in 9th, Kalkenberg 10th, Herrmann [2,2,2,0] 11th and Dzhima 12th. Poor Doro Wierer took 2 minutes 15 seconds on the range at S4 and even then ended up with 3 penalty loops – she finished 26th – interview without coffee with the coaches! Hanna Öberg in 24th, Røiseland 289th with 10 misses, 1 place ahead of Julia Simon [4,5,3,3], who I think was leading the Mass Start standings at the start? We knew that Eckhoff had won the overall with Røiseland 2nd, but third place was still open for today’s result – Franzi P has taken it – well done her!

Östersund; Men’s 15 Km Mass Start, 21 Mar 21: Well Tiril has been given her overall globe! Despite what the commentary team have said earlier, it seems that Tandrevold’s win today gives her the Mass Start globe! Swedes away like rockets in the men’s race – Samuelsson and Ponsiluoma pushing the pace. At 2.3 Km the order is Ponsiluoma, Samuelsson, QFM, JoBø, Christiansen and Jacquelin. Laegreid 9th, +8.4 with Tarjei 11th, +8.8. The leaders are in for S1 and the wind has eased a bit, in places! QFM has missed 3, JoBø 1, Tarjei 1. Christiansen leads out then Desthieux, Laegreid [+7.3], Latypov, Doll and Weger, all clear. Samuelsson missed 1, Ponsiluoma 3, the same as QFM, Jacquelin and Fabien Claude. On the lap JoBø has pulled back about 10 seconds already. At 5.3 Km Laegreid is just ahead of Desthieux and Christiansen, with Doll and Latypov in touch, then a small gap to Weger and Lesser. In for S2 – Laegreid has missed his 5th, but JoBø has also missed 1. Eduard Latypov shooting fast and accurately and he’s out in the lead, 10.5 ahead of Weger [0,0] and Dale [1,0; +27.4]. Laegreid in 8th, +31.6, JoBø 16th, +46.9. Christiansen and Desthieux also missed 1 each. At 8.3 Km Latypov has pulled away from Weger, then there’s a gap of about 15 seconds to Desthieux, Dale, Guigonnat and Laegreid. JoBø is 12th, +43.8. Latypov in for S3 – 2 misses; Weger has missed 2 as well, Laegreid .has missed 1 but JoBø is clear. Guigonnat [1,0,0] leads out just 1.5 ahead of Doll [0,1,0] with Latypov 3rd, +13.8 JoBø in 4th, +16.5 ahead of Laegreid [+23.1] and Desthieux, +23.8. On the lap JoBø is up to 3rd, Laegreid has dropped back a little; at 11.3 Km Doll is on Guigonnat’s shoulder, JoBø at +13.4, then Latypov and Laegreid, +28.2. Final shoot – the two leaders have missed [Doll 3, Guigonnat 4], JoBø has 1 miss but Laegreid has 2! Latypov clear this time and away, 6.5 ahead of Desthieux [0,1,1,0], then JoBø [1,1,0,1], +12.3 but he’s flying! Christiansen in 4th, ahead of Fak and Doll with Laegreid in 8th, +45.6. I think JoBø might have slowed slightly? Desthieux past the Russian and away; JoBø has eased off, knowing he will take the overall for the third year running! So, Simon Desthieux takes the win, with just 2 targets missed. Eduard Latypov [0,0,2,0] in 2nd ahead of JoBø [1,1,0,1]. Christiansen in 4th, ahead of Doll and Tarjei Bø. Laegreid in 8th, +48.4; Guigonnat [1,0,0,4] in 11th, QFM 12th, Ponsiluoma [3,1,2,0] in 22nd with Samuelsson [1,1,3,0] I 24th. I’m still not sure who gets the Mass Start globe – maybe Tarjei? Yep, according to the IBU Tarjei Bø gets the Mass Start globe, just 4 points ahead of Johannes!

Well done to the IBU and everyone involved in the various venues - an amazing effort to actually get the season completed despite all the restrictions and problems - many thanks!