The 24-year-old Norwegian Sverre Dahlen Aspenes, after shooting clean was filled with joy after finishing the competition in 51:32.1 and realizing that he was now the IBU Open European Champion in the men's 20 km Individual. In the women’s 15 km individual, the Gold medal went to clean-shooting Evgeniia Burtasova who claimed the win in 44:22.9. 

The men’s competition

After Aspenes had claimed the win, despite closing all 20 targets, Russia’s Anton Babikov won the Silver medal, 11.6 seconds behind. The Bronze medal went to local German team member Matthias Dorfer who also shot clean, 1:08.9 back. 

First senior win for Aspenes

More than 40 men cleaning the first prone, the outcome of the competition was completely unpredictable. While Haavard Gutuboe Bogetveit took the lead, Babikov found himself in second, only two seconds behind. Dorfer was eighth, 22.5 seconds back, Aspenes tenth, 22.6 seconds behind. 

As penalties started appearing in the first standing stage, the leaders changed as well. Bogetveit picked up two penalty minutes, dropping out of the top 20. Babikov, however, kept his focus and cleaned taking the lead. Dorfer cleaned standing as well jumping right behind Babikov who had a 27.2-second lead. In the 14th place, 47 seconds behind Babikov when entering the second shooting, Aspenes cleared the bout with a great speed and flawless accuracy jumping to third, 34.4 seconds behind Babikov. 

The second prone stage did not change the top three. Babikov, Dorfer, Aspenes all cleaned putting them 1-2-3. Babikov however widened his gap to 44.5 seconds ahead of Dorfer and 45.7 seconds ahead of Aspenes. Petr Pashenko was fourth, only 2.8 seconds behind the Norwegian. 

Faster on skis, Pashchenko passed Aspenes and Dorfer by the 14.2 km split time. Aspenes, however found second gear passing Pashchenko right before the final standing stage. Babikov was still held his lead. Unfortunately, Pashchenko crumbled earning four very expensive penalty minutes dropping him from medal competition. Babikov however, showed once again that shooting is something where he knows what he is doing. Closing all the 20 targets, he left the shooting range with a 20.4 second lead over Aspenes. Babikov, wearing the bib 44, finished the competition earlier and had to wait and see what Aspenes was doing. Taking back 15 seconds by the last split point, it was clear that the Norwegian was fighting for the Gold. Tension up in the air, Aspenes crossed the finish line with a 11-second advantage over Babikov claiming the win. Babikov finished with Dorfer third.

Clean-shooting Oscar Lombardot of France finished in fourth place, 1:36.8 back. Despite three penalties, Germany’s Philipp Horn finished fifth 2:02.3 back. Taras Lesiuk of Ukraine with one penalty, completed the top six finishing 2:10 back. 

Babikov takes the men’s IBU Cup Individual Score Globe

After a great competition, Anton Babikov managed to turn the tables in his favour. His second place secured the Men’s IBU Cup Individual Score Globe. 

The women’s individual

An early-starter, Alina Stremous of Moldova took the early lead in the finish and had to wait a while to be sure about her position. With one penalty, she stood little chance against the clean-shooting Burtasova, taking the Silver medal 12.1 seconds back. Russia's Natalia Gerbulova closed all 20 targets and won the Bronze medal finishing 16.4 seconds back.  

Burtasova adds another win to her collection

First into the first prone stage, Stremous experienced a setback when one miss added a minute to her time. In 41st position, it was hard to imagine that she would recover and be in the fight for a medal. The odds were much better for Burtasova who managed to close the five targets putting her third at the moment. Gerbulova, also clean, was fifth. 

At the start of the first standing stage, the possibilities for a great result were open for France’s Caroline Colombo, but unfortunately three penalty minutes made it clear that she would not be seen on the podium. Burtasova, however, managed to clean once again taking the lead. Stremous recovered from her penalty moving to 12th after a clean standing round. Gerbulova, also clean, was fourth, 6.5 seconds behind her teammate. 

Although Burtasova managed to clean once again, she saw Germany’s Janina Hettich holding the lead after her third zero. Burtasova was third, 5.4 seconds back and Switzerland’s Elisa Gasparin had climbed to second, 5.2 seconds back with Gerbulova fourth, 16.1 seconds behind Hettich. The question was who could delivering zeroes as this was now the pre-condition for claiming the Gold medal. 

Things started turning in the last standing stage where the leader and local favourite Janina Hettich earned two penalties opening the door for clean shooters to claim the lead. Stremous by that time had bounced back from the prone mistake and after delivering a zero in her last standing stage, found herself in third position. Burtasova managed to pull off a perfect 20/20 giving her the lead. Keeping the top spot until the end, Burtasova claimed the Gold.

After the final standing stage, Gerbulova was second, 20.1 seconds behind her teammate, with Stremous third. Stremous, faster on the skis had a faster last loop, claiming the Silver medal. Gerbulova won the Bronze medal. 

Russia's Viktoria Slivko, with one penalty, placed fourth, 21.7 seconds back. Switzerland's Elsa Gasparin missed once in the final standing resulting in fifth place, 31.1 seconds back. Germany's Janina Hettich, after missing twice in the final standing, placed sixth, 1:06.5 back.

Individual Score Globe to Burtasova

With a perfect performance, Evgeniia Burtasova secured herself also the women’s IBU Cup Individual Score Globe.

Photos: Christian Manzoni / IBU