Sweden’s Martin Ponsiluoma after missing a single shot in the first standing stage cleaned the next two stages, skiing to a 49:36.6 victory this afternoon in the season-opening Kontiolahti Men’s 20 km individual. Today’s win was the second in his career, with his previous win coming when he claimed the 2021 IBU World Championships 10 km sprint title at Pokljuka. Switzerland’s Niklas Hartweg shot clean in second place, 37.2 seconds back for his first-ever World Cup podium, topping his previous 17th place previous best in the Antholz 20 km individual last season. Germany’s David Zobel, also shooting clean finished in a career-best third place, 59.3 seconds back. Zobel’s podium was the first of his career, topping his 8th place in the Oslo mass start at the end of last season. Hartweg and Zobel were the only men to shoot clean in the competition.

Ponsiluoma Under Control

Ponsiluoma admitted that one thing was the key in his first-ever 20 km individual win. “Of course, shooting was the key today, in a distance race like this. I felt focused all day. I was really good on the tracks; I opened under control and then I could hold the times for the five loops. That was the key. It felt like a hard interval session. I never got really tired so I had a fantastic day out there.”

Yellow Bib

With the win, he will wear the Yellow Bib for the first time ever in Saturdays sprint. “It is a dream come true. I think everyone dreams of starting in Yellow so I am really happy and excited about it!”

No Hesitation

Further reflecting on his win, Ponsiluoma added, “I am really proud of my shooting. I was absolutely focused the whole time. I never hesitated or anything; it went really well… I was a little bit nervous today and that is always a really good sign…My confidence is really high and I want to keep doing races like this.”

Hartweg: “Reach for the Stars”

Hartweg with an almost unbelievable start to the season, shot clean for his first podium. “During the race, I knew the skiing was pretty solid and the shooting was in a good way. When I cleaned the last targets, I was super happy and I knew today might be the day when I could really reach for the stars.” Germany’s Roman Rees, with one penalty finished fourth, 1:00.9 back. Ponsiluoma’s teammate Sebastian Samuelsson, with one penalty finished fifth, 1:02.8 back. Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid with two penalties finished sixth, 1:23.4 back.

Season Opener

The 2022/23 BMW IBU World Cup season kicked off in the darkness of early winter with the thermometer reading -3C and winds which gusted at times crossing from right to left. Samuelsson was the first of the favorites on the range, cleaning the first prone as did Laegreid who won last year’s season opener. After these two, things heated up fast with Ponsiluoma, Tarjei Boe, Hartweg and Rees all clean and faster than Samuelsson by several seconds. Quentin Fillon Maillet opening the season in the Yellow Bib missed two shots, falling over two minutes back. Johannes Thingnes Boe, starting mid-field and hoping to contend for Yellow this season picked up two penalties putting him way down near Fillon Maillet. Late starter Zobel shot clean in 11th position after the first stage.

Norwegian Leaders

Tarjei and Laegreid both cleaned the first standing to go into first and second while Samuelsson missed a shot, dropping to 17th. Hartweg, Rees, and Zobel all stayed perfect holding spots in the top 10. Ponsiluoma, although skiing fast missed a shot falling 49 seconds back.

Laegreid in Front

Samuelsson came back to clean the second prone stage, but Laegreid went to 15-for-15, taking the lead. Ponsiluoma got back in the mix with five perfect shots putting him putting him 38 seconds back just behind the also clean Hartweg with Zobel 3 seconds behind the Swede. while Tarjei picked up two penalties falling out of contention.

Ponsiluoma Seals the Win

As usual the last standing was critical: Samuelsson was again perfect while Laegreid faltered when two shots went astray, putting him 21 seconds and out of the lead group. Hartweg, just off the lead throughout the whole competition went to 20-for-20 putting him 43 seconds ahead of Samuelsson. Ponsiluoma came to the last stage with the win on the line. He responded with three fast perfect shots, hesitated then dropped the last two targets, leaving 15.5 seconds ahead of Hartweg, virtually sealing the victory. Rees continued to have a very good day, also going 5-for-5 in his last stage, leaving in third position momentarily until Zobel matched, moving 14 seconds ahead of his teammate and into the top three.

Ponsiluoma powered through the last loop, leaving no doubt about who would win today. With 600 meters to go, his lead was up to 31 seconds, which he then stretched into 37.2 seconds over Hartweg by the finish by the finish, with Zobel hanging on for third place.

Unsure until the Finish

Zobel was unsure he was third until the finish. “I am just happy; it was amazing. I looked up at the finish and was third, okay…I got the information on the track but somehow my head did not really realize it. The coach said third place and it is really close, but I did not realize how many seconds so… I fought as hard as possible but as for third place, it was not clear for me until I was in the finish.”

Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni, Hendrik Osula