Germany Stuns France in Hochfilzen Women’s Relay Victory

BMW IBU World Cup

15 Dec 2024

Germany Stuns France in Hochfilzen Women’s Relay Victory

After trailing France throughout the first three legs, Women’s Total Score leader Franziska Preuss went 10-for-10 on the range, stunning the French foursome and anchoring Germany a 1:16:13.7 victory in this morning’s Hochfilzen Women’s 4 X 6 km Relay. Preuss outshot her French rival Lou Jeanmonnot whose five spares plus a standing penalty proved to be the French downfall. The German squad of Preuss, Selina Grotian, Julia Tannheimer and Vanessa Voigt needed just four spare rounds to bring Germany its first women’s relay win in almost four years.

Tannheimer Nervous Yesterday, “Felt good today”

Preuss anchored the January 2021 Oberhof win in January 2021, also shooting clean that day. However, two youngsters, Tannheimer and Grotian set the table for today’s victory, keeping their team within seven seconds of France when Preuss took over for her leg. Both were thrilled with their first time atop a World Cup podium. Tannheimer with the second-fastest second leg, called their big day, “Really, really fun. Yesterday I was a little bit nervous about the relay, but today I woke up and felt good. As for battling Olympic Champion Justine Braisaz-Bouchet on her leg, “I was with her in the last loop of yesterday’s pursuit and she was really fast, so today I needed to stay right behind her. I think I did it pretty good (tagging a mere .6 seconds off the lead).”

“Special Moment”

Leg three Grotian, wearing her Gold medal proudly added, “I think the last time the German women won a Gold medal was a long time ago, so it is a very special moment…In most relays we do not go in with the thought of winning and today we did it.”

The second-place French squad skied fast throughout the competition with Julia Simon and Braisaz-Bouchet recording the fastest legs of the day, but the penalty and 13 spare rounds, left them 1:05.7 back. Swedish anchor Elvira Oeberg brought her team into third place with her typically fast aggressive skiing, 1:31.8 back, with a penalty and six spares.

Surprising Slovenia Fourth

The biggest surprise of the day came from fourth place Slovenia, 2:42.1 back, sporting what Lena Repinc called “their lucky Buffs” she made for the team. Their sparkplug, brilliantly-fast Anamarija Lampic finally found her shooting groove, remarking, “I finally shot clean in prone and almost in standing, but we will get there. This fourth place is like Gold for us. We just want to stay here for the rest of the season!” Switzerland finished fifth, with a penalty and ten spares, 2:53 back, while Norway with two penalties and eleven spares finished sixth, 3:08.2 back.