Sebastian Samuelsson triumphed at the Biathlon World Cup in Nove Mesto, marking his first victory of the season by outperforming Tommaso Giacomel and Johannes Thingnes Bö. Despite the German team’s struggles, with Philipp Horn placing 19th due to shooting errors, co-coach Jens Filbrich noted improvements. In other highlights, Julia Simon won the women’s 10-kilometer pursuit, and Franziska Preuß finished 13th. The competition remains intense with additional races ahead.
Sebastian Samuelsson Claims Victory in Nove Mesto
In a remarkable display of skill, Swedish biathlete Sebastian Samuelsson secured his first victory of the season at the Biathlon World Cup in Nove Mesto. His flawless performance in the pursuit race on March 8, 2025, allowed him to finish ahead of Italian competitor Tommaso Giacomel, who recorded two errors and trailed by 26.4 seconds. The podium was completed by renowned world champion Johannes Thingnes Bö, who faced a 38.7-second deficit after incurring three penalties.
With this win, Bö regained the coveted yellow jersey as the overall World Cup leader, now just five points ahead of his teammate Sturla Holm Laegreid, who finished in fifth place. With five more individual races on the calendar, the competition remains fierce.
German Biathletes Struggle Yet Again
Unfortunately for the German team, the performance under new national coach Tobias Reiter did not meet expectations. Once again, shooting errors plagued the athletes, with Philipp Horn achieving the highest rank in 19th place. Although Horn demonstrated his running abilities, four shooting errors hindered his overall placement, resulting in a deficit of 2:28.5 minutes.
In contrast, Justus Strelow maintained solid shooting accuracy with only one mistake but struggled on the track, finishing 22nd. Philipp Nawrath ended the race in 27th after four missed shots, while David Zobel placed 38th with three errors. The day was equally disappointing for Johannes Kühn and Danilo Riethmüller, who finished in 40th and 41st places, respectively, after each making six mistakes.
Despite these setbacks, co-coach Jens Filbrich expressed optimism, noting improvements in the prone shooting position. However, he acknowledged the need for further work in the standing position, concluding, “There could have been much more.” Horn’s commendable performance offers a glimmer of hope for future competitions.
Initially, the German team showed promise with a strong start. Following mixed results in the sprint, Strelow, Nawrath, Horn, and Zobel managed to shoot cleanly in the first prone session, gaining valuable positions. However, they still faced a challenge in reaching the top 10. Meanwhile, sprint winner Emilien Jacquelin maintained his lead ahead of Bö.
As the race progressed, both Jacquelin and Bö experienced shooting errors in the second round; Jacquelin made two mistakes, allowing Samuelsson to surge ahead after hitting all his targets. Despite their struggles, the German quintet remained error-free, with Horn continuing his strong performance on the track.
Ultimately, Samuelsson solidified his lead with another flawless shooting display, confidently crossing the finish line. Giacomel maintained his second position, while Bö’s errors cost him time, placing him behind in the final standings. Jacquelin finished in eighth place after additional mistakes.
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In other news, biathlete Franziska Preuß reflected on her performance after finishing 13th in the pursuit race in Nove Mesto, while the Nordic Ski World Championships crowned new champions and downhill skiers competed in Kvjetfell.
Additionally, Julia Simon took the win in the 10-kilometer pursuit in Nove Mesto, with insightful analysis and commentary provided by Michael Antwerpes and Erik Lesser.