Julia Simon of France and Vebjoern Soerum took advantage of perfect conditions in Sandnes to take this evening’s super sprints. Simon again was at her best after three penalties in the two-bout qualifying, rebounded with the same shooting in the 20-shot final, taking the win in 15:17.3. Soerum use his ski speed to outrun five penalties in his 13:52 win.

The super sprints were basically showdown between the home Norwegian, French and German World Cup squads, led by 5-time World Cup Total Score winner Johannes Thingnes Boe. The qualifying quickly separated the big names from challengers looking for the limelight. Norway’s Marthe Krakstad Johansen and France’s Lou Jeanmonnot battled for the win down to the last loop, both shooting clean and the Norwegian 4.7 seconds up at the finish. The men found two Norwegians Martin Uldal and Einar Hedegart both shooting clean, separated by 3.2 seconds.

Simon Takes Women’s Final

It is hard to keep champion down which Simon proved again. The French 2023 World Cup Total Score winner did not win the qualifying, but roared through the final to claim the win. Elvira Oeberg matched Simon on the range but despite a final clean standing finished 10 seconds back. Karoline Offigstad Knotten made it a three-nation podium in third, 28,1 seconds back, with four penalties.

Uldal Tops Christiansen

Christiansen’s Blink dominance over recent years ended with Soerum’s 3-second win over the veteran. Although Soerum struggled on the range with the five penalties he flew on the tracks, keeping the one-penalty Christiansen three seconds back at the finish. Top qualifier Uldal also with five penalties, finished 18.8 seconds back.

Shooting Duel to Perrot

The evening kicked off with the popular shooting duel under clear skies. The women’s found World Champions Julia Simon and the Oeberg sisters in the mix going into the final. On the men’s side, all of the biggest names were gone by the final, save Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen and Johannes Dale-Skjevdal. When the dust settled for the super-finale, France’s Eric Perrot and Norway’s Oda Kolkinn stood side-by-side with eighth in last year’s Total Score Perrot topping the virtual unknown Kolkinn.

Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni