Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi defended her City Biathlon title this afternoon in rainy Dresden, going almost wire-to-wire in 33:33.2 despite a penalty and seven spare rounds. Although the 2024 World Cup Total Score winner led from start to finish, the missed shots made it a close affair as second place Johanna Puff of Germany used just a single spare. With the rain continuing later, Slovenia’s Jakov Fak, won his first City Biathlon title using five spares and outsprinting Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Boe and Germany’s Justus Strelow for the men’s victory in 35:49.5. The trio went into the last loop together, but Fak took control, pulling away for a 3.3 second win over the Norwegian.

Puff Second; Knotten Third

Puff, with a single spare finished second, 9.3 seconds back. Norway’s Karoline Knotten out sprinted Germany’s Franziska Preuss by .1 seconds for third place, with six spares, 28 seconds back.

Lisa’s Troubles

Vittozzi’s path to victory was fraught with troubles on the range, that started with her rifle falling from the rack after zeroing, needing a repair and then a re-zeroing that required a 20-click adjustment and just two shots before the competition. Later, she lost a pole and at the last standing, needed a spare from an official after not using a spare on the ground in the prone stage.

Vittozzi immediately took control of the competition from the start, with a group of five chasing her. Two spares in the second prone gave her a seven-second lead.

The leader picked up a penalty in the first standing but remained 4 seconds up. Vittozzi stretched her lead into the final standing stage. Vittozzi hit four of her last five shots, used spares, leaving 2 seconds ahead of Puff. The young German moved ahead at one point, but the World number 1 proved stronger, pulling away for the victory, while Knotten edged Franziska Preuss for the last podium spot

Good Shooting for JT

Behind Fak, JT shot well with two spares but was a bit slower on the range than his rivals. Strelow in third place also used five spares, finishing 5.2 seconds back JT led the field into the first prone stage, leading for much of the competition. However, Fak and Strelow shot faster, keeping themselves in contention.

By the last standing stage, it was clearly a three-man fight. JT and Fak both cleaned and left with Strelow. The trio jockeyed over the last 2.3 km loop, but Fak was clearly stronger as they entered the final 400 meters, pulling away for the win.

Photos: IBU/Bjorn Reichert