Sensational third place for Suvi Minkkinen and Otto Invenius in the Single Mixed Relay put a stamp on a series of twists in Oslo-Holmenkollen week that only biathlon can offer. You thought Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold would not recover from her standing shooting nightmare at the World Championships? Wrong! You thought the men's Total Score battle was a foregone conclusion? Wrong!

Laegreid uses opportunities, Tarjei closes in on Johannes

Sturla Holm Laegreid grabbed two last-shooting opportunities - offered by Tarjei Boe - and won back-to-back Individual-Mass Start in two days. Winning seven medals at the BMW IBU World Championships took a lot out of JT Boe: he finished fifth in the Individual and 14th in the Mass Start. Tarjei finished second in the Individual and seventh in the Mass Start and closed the gap to the yellow bib to 59 points before the World Cup continues in Soldier Hollow and Canmore. Sweden had plenty to be happy about in Holmenkollen, but no one more than Jesper Nelin, who achieved his first-ever World Cup podium with third place in the Mass Start. In the shadow of the Boe brothers' duel Eric Perrot is challenging the U25 leader Tommaso Giacomel: the Italian has 68 points lead, but the Frenchman proved his rising form with fourth place in the Individual.

Rested Tandrevold finds back her mojo

Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold bounced back from a fortnight of disappointments in Nove Mesto and extended her lead atop the Total Score standings with a win in the Individual and fourth place in the Mass Start. Lena Haecki-Gross emerged victorious from a highly volatile Mass Start and entered the battle for the Top 6 finish in the Total Score. Justine Braisaz-Bouchet lost momentum from Nove Mesto, while Julia Simon and Lisa Vittozzi stayed close enough to Tandrevold to make the final two weeks very exciting.

Oeverby takes over from Botn in Obertilliach

In the absence of Johan Olav Botn, Mats Oeverby of Norway won in the Sprint and Pursuit at the IBU Cup in Obertilliach and took control of the battle for the Total Score title. With 270 points still up for grabs next week (also in Obertilliach), Oeverby has a 158-point lead over Martin Nevland. The Total Score battle remains open in the women’s field as Jenny Enodd holds 43 points lead over Oceane Michelon of France and 84 of her teammate Karoline Erdal.

Kalkenberg, Tannheimer Frey, Gerhardsen shine in Otepaa

After 18 competitions packed into nine program days at the IBU Youth & Junior World Championships in Otepaa, Estonia, Norway emerged as the most decorated nation. Norwegian athletes won 14 medals, four golds in the youth category and four golds in the junior category. Germany matched Norway's success in junior competitions with seven medals; four were gold. Youth men athlete Kasper Kalkenberg of Norway won 5/5/ medals; three were gold. He finished the World Championships as the most decorated participant. Voldiya Galmace Paulin, representing France, was the most successful youth women athlete with three medals. Julia Tannheimer of Germany was the most successful junior women's athlete, with four medals (two golds). Isak Frey and Sivert Gerhardsen, from Norway, sparred in the junior men's competitions: Frey won four medals, Gerhardsen three.

Photo: IBU: C. Manzoni; D. Yevenko