Biathlete Rastorgujev is inaccurate only in the last line of fire and the season starts with 21st place. Highlights / Article / LSM.lv

Andrejs Rastorgujevs showed the best result among Latvian biathletes in the 20-kilometer distance of the World Cup in Kontiolahti, Finland, on Saturday, ranking third, but a debutant Rūdis Balodis, who finished in his sixties, also provided a pleasant surprise.

The winner of the competition was Norwegian biathlete Sturl Holm Legreid, who shot without errors and finished in 48 minutes and 57 seconds. The second was the leader’s compatriot Juhannes Tingnes Be, who was 20.09 seconds slower and made one mistake in the shooting range. Meanwhile, the Czech Ondrzej Moravets finished the trio.

In the 20-kilometer distance, Latvia was represented by three athletes: Latvia’s leading biathlete Rastotgujevs, Roberts Slotiņš and Rūdis Balodis.

Rastorgujev was accurate in the first line of fire, and also in the second shot without mistakes. Also in the third shooting range, Andrejs was punctual, which allowed him to stay in the leader group.

Rastorgujev in the third shooting range

However, in the last line of fire, Andrejs’ formula for success did not work – two mistakes, earning two penalty minutes, gave up hope for starting the season with a high place. Finishing, Rastorguyev was three minutes and 14.9 seconds behind the leader, which allowed him to rank 21st.

Rastorguyev makes mistakes in the last line of fire

The surprise was the debutant Balodis, who made only one mistake in the line of fire, which allowed him to finish in 58th place, six minutes and 17 seconds behind the winner.

The broom did not succeed in the shooting range – eight mistakes, and he finished in 96th place.

At 17.30 LTV7 and REPLAY.lv will join Kontiolahti to broadcast the competition in the 15 km distance for ladies. 103 biathletes have entered the competition and Annija Keita Sabule is among them. Unfortunately for Baiba Bendika, this stage is coming to an end, because in the training camp in Sweden she and the head coach of the national team Ilmārs Bricis have a positive Covid-19 test result.

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