The German biathletes came second in the relay at the home World Cup in Oberhof.
In the unusual line-up, Roman Rees, Benedikt Doll, Philipp Nawrath and Philipp Horn only had to admit defeat to the favored Norwegians, who have won all relay races of the season so far. After a penalty loop from Nawrath and a total of 15 spare rounds, the DSV quartet was 2:01.9 minutes behind the favorites after 4 x 7.5 kilometers. Third place went to Italy.
This means that national coach Uros Velepec’s protégés also made it onto the podium in the third relay race of the season, after previously finishing third in Östersund and Hochfilzen. In front of 20,500 fans in the Arena am Grenzadler there was even a chance of the first season success in Oberhof in 13 years, but after Nawrath’s mistake the preliminary decision had been made. The German ski hunters ended the first home World Cup of the new year with two podium places after Doll’s sprint victory.
In sometimes difficult conditions with wind and icy shooting mats, Rees and Doll were just able to avoid the penalty loop in standing shooting by using three spare rounds each. Nawrath was no longer able to do that after he overtook the leader Tarjei Bö after being 47 seconds behind. He caused a curiosity: When his teammate Sturla Holm Laegreid came into the transition zone, Bö wasn’t there yet and then stormed in late. The overall World Cup leader Johannes Thingnes Bö confidently brought the Norwegians, who only needed seven extra cartridges, to the finish line. Horn secured the top position for the Germans.
