After a flawless shooting, the Czech biathlete Markéta Davidová mastered the 15 km endurance race, which started the new season of the World Cup in Östersund, Sweden.
Davidová did not hesitate on any of the four shooting items and has dominated the running order since the second shot. After shooting down the twentieth target, she smiled because she knew it was decided.
“I don’t know how I did it. I’m glad for that. It was okay to lie down, I wasn’t entirely sure about those blows when I was standing, and I’m glad they fell,” she told Czech Television.
She won by one minute and 17.7 seconds ahead of Austrian Lisa Theresa Hauser. After the triumph at the February World Championships in Pokljuka, she won the 15-kilometer race for the second time in a row and again had 100% shooting.
She didn’t know how her competitors were doing. “I didn’t notice anything at all. It occurred to me that I didn’t have any information today. So I fought with myself that this didn’t bother me at all,” she confided.
She had a tenth running time. “I’ve been so frozen here for the third day that I’m glad I’m happy. I probably had such feelings on the track. I was lucky to ride a few laps with Tirill,” she said, referring to Norka Tirill Eckhoff, who was in running the second fastest.
He does not overestimate success. “It’s nice for the head, on the other hand, the first races really don’t say anything at all. We have to keep working and I hope it will continue to be within some reasonable limits,” said the 24-year-old biathlete.
David won the third big race of her career. In addition to the world title, she triumphed before today in the sprint in Anterselva in January 2019. He will start Sunday’s sprint with a yellow number for the leading racer of the series.
Besides her, Lucie Charvátová also scored, who took 33rd place with four penalty minutes. Two errors in the final item deprived her of a better result.
“For the beginning of the season, I don’t think it will inspire or offend you. Of course, I’m struggling a bit with the shooting, but at the beginning of the season, this is decent,” said the biathlete, famous for her uneven shooting. Jessica Jislová took 58th, Tereza Vinklárková 63rd and Eva Puskarčíková 69th.
The men’s endurance race will start in Östersund at 15:00.
Biathlon World Championships in Östersund (Sweden) – endurance races:
Women (15 km): 1. David (CZE) 42: 43.5 (0 penalty minutes), 2. Hauserová (AUT) -1: 17.7 (1), 3. Herrmannová (DEU) -1: 23.0 (1), 4 Alimbekav (BEL) -1: 46.0 (2), 5. Nigmatullin (RUS) -2: 04.0 (1), 6. Lunder (CAN) -2: 05.2 (1), 7. Kalkenberg (NOR) -2: 25.0 (1), 8. Rezcovova (RUS) -2: 27.7 (1), 9. Weidelova (DEU) -2: 28.6 (0) , 10. Röiseland (Nor.) -2: 38,1 (3),… 33. Charvátová -4:20,8 (4), 58. Jislová -5:37,7 (4), 63. Vinklárková -5:43,6 (3), 69. Puskarčíková (all CR) -5: 58.1 (4).
15:00 endurance race 20 km men.
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