Italy’s Dorothea Wierer after two prone penalties, came back from 14th position with two perfect standing stages and a brilliantly fast last loop to win the Antholz women’s 12.5 km mass start in 35:58.7. This afternoon’s win was Wierer’s first of the season and her second podium, just a week after her first, a third-place finish in the Ruhpolding sprint. Dzinara Alimbekava of Belarus finished in a season-best second place, with one penalty, 3.7 seconds back. Anais Chevalier-Bouchet of France, also with one penalty finished third, 11.6 seconds back.

Russia’s Kristina Reztsova, with two penalties, finished fourth, 22.8 seconds back. Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, with four penalties, finished fifth, 24.8 seconds back while Norway’s Tiril Eckhoff, with two penalties, finished sixth, 28 seconds back.

Windless afternoon

The thirty women in the last mass start before Beijing got a huge break today with the wind that plagued them earlier in the week completely gone on a bright sunny afternoon. Coming into the first prone stage, Julia Simon was at the head of the pack. Hanna Sola cleaned just a half second faster than her French rival, taking a small lead with the also clean Eckhoff in third. Another ten women were perfect, all leaving within 15 seconds.

Simon in Front

Simon again took control before the second prone stage, setting up on lane one. This time, she cleaned the fastest, leaving in the lead with the also-clean Eckhoff on her shoulder and Alimbekava and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold at 2.9 and 7.6 seconds back. A group of five including teammates Chevalier-Bouchet, Anais Bescond, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet plus Clare Egan and Vanessa Voigt trailed 15 seconds back.

Two Norwegians

The two Norwegians took over the pacing duties on the next loop, with all four French teammates closely following. Simon shot fast and went for a penalty loop, while Chevalier-Bouchet, Eckhoff, and Wierer, after two prone penalties all cleaned, leaving 1.2 and 14.9 seconds back. Simon and Braisaz-Bouchet were another 4 seconds off the pace. Tandrevold’s two penalties dropped her to 46 seconds back.

Chevalier-Bouchet and Wierer

Chevalier-Bouchet and Eckhoff skied a meter apart over most of the next loop into the decisive last standing stage, with the Norwegian going to lane one for her five shots. She missed twice, falling from contention. However, Chevalier-Bouchet cleaned with confidence and Wierer on lane four matched with her usual rapid-firing. The went out 4.7 seconds apart. Alimbekava was also perfect in third position.

Wierer Comes Back for Home Win

Wierer immediately put her foot on the gas, taking the lead, with Alimbekava passing Chevalier-Bouchet. The Italian continued to build a bigger lead with every meter. Skiing powerfully, she had 4.6 seconds on the Belarusian with 300 meters, holding on for her first win of the season. Despite showing signs of total exhaustion in the last 20 meters, Wierer had another win in her home stadium. Alimbekava finished second with Chevalier-Bouchet third.

Enjoying the competition

Alimbekava was out to enjoy wearing bib number one. “My plan was today to enjoy his race, because I had number one with Marte and Elvira not here. That helped me make a good race. The final lap was not that hard for me. I started to shorten the gap a little late. I am a little bit upset ant it was just a second place, because I had more powers.”

Good Race for Chevalier-Bouchet

After passing up the other Antholz competitions, Chevalier-Bouchet thought she had a good day. “It was a good race. I did not race the rest of the week because I wanted to train before the Olympics. It was a hard race on skis but I am happy to shoot almost clean. I just missed one. It is okay; I am really happy with that.”

Photos: IBU/Thibaut