Preuss Bounces Back for Hochfilzen Sprint Win
Germany’s Franziska Preuss, leading after prone, slipped into third position after one penalty in standing, but rebounded with a very fast last loop to capture the Hochfilzen Women’s 7.5 km sprint today in 20:24.3. Preuss’ second career victory came 5 ½ years after her first win in the 2019 Ruhpolding Mass Start.
“Really good Day on the tracks”
Preuss was all smiles after her big win, despite a bit of disappointment with the missed standing shot. “It feels really, really good, especially with one mistake; ‘I thought, ah, shit, one too much again.’ But I had a really good day out on the tracks, really good skis. It is a really cool day. It is my brother’s birthday; I hope he is also happy now!”
Yellow a Year Later
The win vaulted Preuss into the Yellow Bib just a year after she held it coming into this competition week. “Normally my brother did not want to come tomorrow, because he has concert tickets, so maybe he will change his mind and cheer for me. We will see. (Regarding the Yellow Bib), I think it is really cool; I think my whole family is very happy!”
Chauveau, “Start fast to take away the pressure”
France’s Sophie Chauveau shot clean in career-best second place, 6 seconds back, improving on her third place in last January’s Oberhof Sprint and coming back after 50th and 69th places last week in Kontiolahti. “My goal was to start quite fast to take away the pressure and stress; just be motivated and fight hard and it went well…I was definitely happy with my race. That was the big goal.”
Norway’s Karoline Offigstad Knotten shot clean finishing in a season-best third place, 6.9 seconds back. Chauveau’s teammate Lou Jeanmonnot finished fourth, 22.5 seconds back, with one penalty. Preuss’ teammate Selina Grotian finished fifth, 30.4 seconds back, with one penalty. France’s Justine Braisaz-Bouchet in sixth, 30.7 seconds back, with two penalties.
Beautiful Day
A beautiful day with bluebird skies, -2C and a light breeze greeted the women after multiple weeks in the Scandinavian darkness. Jeanmonnot shot aggressively, cleaning prone for the early lead surpassing Chauveau, until Dorothea Wierer shot fast, going out .5 seconds faster than Jeanmonnot. Preuss got the upper hand by 5 seconds with her perfect stage.
Chauveau was the first to master the gusty wind and clean standing. Jeanmonnot missed a shot, leaving standing second, 22 seconds off the pace. Preuss picked up a penalty, leaving 5.4 seconds back, fighting for the lead with Chauveau. Knotten, after a clean prone, made her podium by matching, less than a second in front of Preuss.
2024/25 BMW IBU World Cup 2 Hochfilzen Women's 7.5 km Sprint
Preuss into the Lead
Chauveau’s leading time held until Preuss, with a kilometer to go, went up by 3.1 seconds, stretching to 6 seconds at 7 km, carrying it to the win. Knotten skied a good last loop, but slipped behind Preuss and Chauveau, remaining third at the finish.
Photos: IBU/Yevenko, Nordic Focus/Christian Manzoni
Sign up for our newsletter
Follow us on:
Sign In
EN
Search
