Until the final shooting, the German women's relay team is level with Italy at the Biathlon World Cup, then Denise Herrmann-Wick has to reload - and the competition for the title rushes. Nevertheless, there is great rejoicing because the quartet has held its own in difficult conditions.
The German biathletes won silver in the relay at the home World Championships in Oberhof. Vanessa Voigt, Hanna Kebinger, Sophia Schneider and Denise Herrmann-Wick only had to admit defeat to the Italians in difficult conditions with lots of wind and rain. The Swedes were third. After six spare rounds, the DSV quartet was 24.7 seconds behind the surprisingly strong Italians (0 2) and well ahead of the Swedish team (55.7/2 11). After gold in the sprint and silver in the pursuit for Herrmann-Wick, it was the third medal for the German Ski Association in Thuringia.
The last time a German women's relay had won the world title was six years ago in Hochfilzen, Austria, and there was also silver at the last World Cup on Pokljuka in 2021. Previously, the German women had been on the podium in three out of four relay competitions this winter.
For a long time it was unclear whether the race over 4x6 kilometers could take place at all. A storm warning with announced strong gusts and wind speeds of up to 85 kilometers per hour had already led to a crisis meeting with the local organizers and the world association IBU on Friday evening. It wasn't decided until Saturday morning that the packed house of 23,500 spectators could start. The German men's relay had previously finished fifth in France's victory.
