Franziska Preuß faced a setback at the Nove Mesto World Cup, finishing 15th in the sprint, while rival Lou Jeanmonnot improved her overall standing. Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold claimed victory, outpacing French competitors. Preuß initially led but faltered during the second shooting round, resulting in a missed shot and a penalty loop. Despite the challenges, she maintains a 63-point lead over Jeanmonnot in the overall standings with six races remaining this season.
Franziska Preuß Faces Setback in Nove Mesto
Franziska Preuß encountered a minor hurdle in her quest for overall victory at the World Cup held in Nove Mesto. The talented Bavarian athlete secured the 15th position in the sprint, while her rival Lou Jeanmonnot delivered a stronger performance, narrowing the gap in the overall standings.
Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold Claims Victory
The sprint competition on March 7, 2025, saw Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold emerge victorious, demonstrating exceptional skill at the shooting range and impressive speed on foot. She triumphed over three French competitors, with Justine Braisaz-Bouchet finishing second (+15.1 seconds / 1 error) and Julia Simon securing third place (+20.9 seconds / 0 errors). Lou Jeanmonnot narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth (+27.1 seconds / 1 error).
In contrast, Preuß struggled to maintain pace, ending the race in 15th place (+54.1 seconds / 1 error). The top German performer was Selina Grotian, who placed tenth (+47.2 seconds / 1 error). Reflecting on her performance, the 20-year-old acknowledged, “To be at the very front, one would have had to shoot zero today,” but remained optimistic about her result. Other German competitors included Sophia Schneider (28th), Julia Tannheimer (31st), Marlene Fichtner (56th), and Johanna Puff (58th).
Starting the 7.5-kilometer race in third position, Preuß, the newly crowned world champion in the pursuit, initially performed well, hitting all five targets during her first shooting round and taking a 13.2-second lead. However, Jeanmonnot matched her accuracy and moved ahead of Preuß.
During the second shooting, nerves got the better of Preuß, leading to a missed shot and a trip to the penalty loop. Grotian, her teammate, also faltered for the first time, finishing the penalty loop with a 6.9-second delay compared to Preuß’s 9.4 seconds.
A silver lining for Preuß was that Jeanmonnot also missed a target. Despite this, the French athlete’s quick recovery allowed her to take the lead after the second shooting with a 9.4-second advantage.
In the closing stretch, Preuß managed to regain some time, though it was clear she would not reach the podium. Every placement remains crucial in her pursuit of the crystal globe. “Somehow, today was just off,” she reflected on her challenging day.
Ultimately, Preuß’s 15th-place finish heightened the competition for the crystal globe against Jeanmonnot. “In the back of my mind, it’s already ticking,” she confessed about the pressure, yet she aimed to keep her focus intact during the race. With 905 points, Preuß still holds a 63-point lead over Jeanmonnot (842), with six races left this winter.
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