Johan Olav Botn of Norway and Stefanie Scherer of Germany are the winners of the Mass Start 60 at the IBU Cup in Obertilliach. Botn won after six consecutive second place finishes and took the lead in the Total Score standings. For both it was the first IBU Cup victory of the season.

Botn’s first IBU Cup of the season

Botn emerged victorious in the Men's Mass Start 60, delivering and outstanding skiing performance - with four penalties - and a time of 39:18.5. Fellow Norwegian I. Frey secured second place, finishing just 10.7 seconds behind with three penalties. The third spot on the podium went to Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, also from Norway, who finished 17.2 seconds back with four penalties.

THE WINNER’S WORDS - JOHAN OLAV BOTN

S.G. Bakken, another Norwegian, claimed fourth place, managing two penalties and finishing 20.1 seconds off the winner. Germany's R. Rees ranked fifth, with two penalties and a time 52.7 seconds behind Botn. S.D. Aspenes from Norway rounded out the top six, despite five penalties, finishing 1:04.9 behind.

Scherer wins with clean shooting

Scherer took the lead after the second shooting and then dominated the race to claim victory, shooting clean and finishing with a time of 36:11.1. France's Total Score leader Paula Botet secured second place with two penalties, just 5.8 seconds behind the winner in an impressive skiing performance. Fellow Frenchman Camille Bened rounded out the podium in third, also with two penalties, finishing 20.1 seconds back.

THE WINNER’S WORDS - STEFANIE SCHERER

In fourth place, Marion Wiesensarter of Germany delivered a strong effort, incurring only one penalty and finishing 29.5 seconds off the leader. Sophia Schneider, another German, finished fifth with four penalties, 35.3 seconds behind. Estonia's Regina Ermits completed the top six, crossing the line 36.8 seconds back with two penalties.

Photo: Deubert: IBU Photo pool