Norway’s Ingrid landmark Tandrevold, using ten shots to close her ten targets led Norway to victory in this afternoon’s Kontiolahti women’s 4 X 6 km relay, finishing in 1:09:48.1. Tandrevold and her teammates Marte Olsbu Roeiseland, Tiril Eckhoff and Ida Lien used just four spare rounds in their dominating win, going unchallenged, taking the lead after leadoff leg Olsbu Roeiseland’s standing stage. Olympic Champion Sweden with eight spares finished second, 37.7 seconds back. Italy, with seven spares finished in a season-best third place, 1:00.2 back.

Germany came back from two penalties plus nine spare rounds, finishing fourth, 1:57.1 back. Switzerland, with a penalty and twelve spares also had a season best in fifth place, 3:37.1 back. Austria, with two penalties and eleven spares finished sixth, 2:55.8 back.

The French team was disqualified when third leg Justine Braisaz-Bouchet used a spare round from a magazine instead of hand-loading it, which is not allowed according to IBU Rules.

First Post-Olympic competition: Seventeen teams

The first post-Olympic competition with seventeen relay teams on the starting line, kicked off under cloudy skies with the temperature just above freezing but with the usual Kontiolahti wind kicking across the shooting range. Eight of the top nine teams cleaned the first prone stage with Susan Dunklee leading the pack out of the stadium with France 1.5 seconds back and Olsbu Roeiseland in ninth, 10 seconds back. Anais Bescond led the field into the standing stage alongside the Norwegian. Olsbu Roeiseland cleaned with one spare, with Austria and Sweden following 6.9 seconds back heading to the first exchange.

Eckhoff totally in control

Eckhoff left the first exchange with a 12.4-second lead over Anna Magnusson and Chevalier-Bouchet trailing another 5 seconds back. Eckhoff, shooting all alone cleaned prone with five easy shots. Lisa Theresa Hauser and Magnusson did the same, but were 20 and 24 seconds back. The Norwegian was in complete control as she came to standing, needing just a single spare to clean. The Swede shooting slowly, cleaned in five shots, but fell 34 seconds back. Hauser maintained third, after a penalty, but Lena Haecki was on her shoulder as they left the stadium, almost a minute behind Norway.

Hanna Closes the Gap

Eckhoff gave Lien a more than generous 58-second lead over Hanna Oeberg with the Swiss, Italians and Austrian teams in a tight battle, 1:13 back. Lien cleaned prone in five very close shots. Hanna shot fast and missed the last shot twice before cleaning while Federica Sanfilippo went five-for-five to get away second at 54 seconds back with Hanna another three back. Lien needed again a single spare to preserve the lead. This time, Hanna cleaned fast in five shots, closing the gap to 29 seconds, while the Swiss moved into third a step in front of the Italians after Sanfilippo used two spares to clean.

Perfect Tandrevold Seals Victory

Tandrevold left for the anchor leg with 28 second in the bank over Elvira, followed by Lisa Vittozzi, 1:08 back. Elvira took a few seconds out of the Norwegian lead by the prone stage, but Tandrevold cleaned with five fast shots and was away. Elvira used two spares, falling 45 seconds back, with Vittozzi using one to remain in third but 1:06 back. No one was in sight as Tandrevold again drilled her five shots home, ensuring the victory. Elvira and Vittozzi both used one spare to seal second and third places.

Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni