Italy’s Tommaso Giacomel went shoulder-to-shoulder with Johannes Thingnes Boe in the final standing stage of this afternoon’s Ruhpolding Men’s 15 km Mass Start, outshooting the Yellow Bib 5-4, sealing the young Italian’s first-ever victory in 36:21.8. Giacomel’s win was his and the Italian team's first podium of the 2024/25 BMW IBU World Cup season.

“Completely out of this world”

The 24-year-old was flabbergasted with his first win, reacting, “It’s just insane. It’s just completely out of this world. It’s been a really tough time for our team. Striking back today, showing everyone what we are capable of, is great. We have an amazing team, amazing workers. It is unbelievable.”

“Really big team result”

He continued, regarding the team and his first-ever 20-for-20 shooting day, “I am so proud; really proud of the job I’ve done these years. I am super proud of this team: all the waxmen, the chef, physiotherapist. Everyone is involved; this is a really big team result!”

Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid finished second, with one penalty, 6.3 seconds back. Boe, who announced his pending retirement at season’s end, after picking up his second penalty in the shootout with Giacomel, finished third, 11.4 seconds back.

Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson and Latvia’s Andrejs Rastorgujevs, both with one penalty, finished fourth and fifth, 17.6 and 28 seconds back. France’s Quentin Fillon Maillet, with three penalties, finished sixth, 39.7 seconds back.

Great weather continued for today’s mass starts: sunny, windless and the crowd once again ready to rock!

Photos: IBU/Svoboda, Nordic Focus