By Inge Scheve
The IBU Biathlon World Cup opener in Östersund continued this weekend with relays, sprint and pursuit races on the schedule.
Team Madshus kicks off the weekend by securing double podium: Endre Strømsheim helps Norway to victory, while Benedikt Doll sets Germany up for third place in the first IBU World Cup relay of the season.
On Saturday, Vebjørn Sørum (NOR) hauls into his first-ever World Cup podium, finishing third in the sprint, while Strømsheim was sixth. On Sunday, the rookies conclude their first World Cup round of the season with seventh and fifth place, respectively, in the pursuit.
At the IBU Cup opener in Kontiolahti (FIN), Madshus biathlete Johan-Olav Smørdal Botn (NOR) was on fire from day one: The 24-year-old cruised in to his first victory for the season in the 20km individual on Thursday, snagged his second win in the sprint on Saturday, and concluded his first IBU-Cup round with helping Norway to victory in the mixed relay.
At the FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Gällivare, Harald Østberg Amundsen snags second place in the 10-kilometer skate race on Saturday, and leaves the weekend the way he entered it: As the overall leader of the World Cup. Then on Sunday, 21-year-old Edvin Anger caps his weekend with his first World Cup podium for the season anchoring Sweden to second place in the men’s relay - on home turf.
At the Norwegian Cup season opener in Gålå, Østberg Amundsen’s twin sister Hedda scores a ticket to the classic race at the Trondheim World Cup after winning the classic race on Saturday.
Henrik Dønnestad (NOR) secures his tickets to both the distance events at the pre-World Championships World Cup round in Trondheim on December 15 to 17, after winning the 10-kilometer classic race on Saturday and finishing second in the 10-kilometer skate race on Sunday.
Photo by: Nordic Focus