BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup 2016 (stage 5) - Men's Mass Start race
16.01.2016, Ruhpolding
Big Men Mass Win for Erik Lesser
Clean Shooting
World Pursuit Champion Erik Lesser of Germany won the battle with the weather to claim the men's 15K pursuit in 40:29.3. Lesser shot clean to finish 9.8 seconds ahead of the Yellow Bib Martin Fourcade of France, with one penalty. Third went to Russia's Evgeniy Garanichev, with one penalty, 13.1 seconds back.
Garanichev's teammate Anton Shipulin finished fourth, with one penalty, 42.5 seconds back. Fifth went the Michal Krcmar of Czech Republic, his personal best result, with one penalty,47,2 seconds back. Simon Schempp of Germany, coming back from illness, finished sixth, with two penalties, 48 seconds back.
Heavy Snow Returns
The heavy snow slowed between the women and men's competitions but picked up to extremely heavy just before the men headed out.
Lots of Clean Shooting Early
Sixteen men cleaned the first prone, including Fourcade, Lesser and Garanichev. The second prone stage separated the field, with these three plus Johannes clean and Moravec a bit back but clean. Johannes, Fourcade, Garanichev, and Lesser came to the first standing together; the Norwegian had two penalties and was out of the group. Fourcade and lesser cleaned to take the lead with Moravec and Tsvetkov just behind and Shipulin 28 seconds back with a single penalty.
Lesser Takes Charge
As they headed to the final standing, Fourcade and the young Russian put a small gap on Lesser but these three clearly had the advantage and a big gap on Moravec. Lesser, just behind the first two cleaned while Fourcade and Garanichev went to the penalty loop, the German had 12 seconds on them as they left the penalty loop. The podium still could be decided on the tracks. Shipulin was now in fourth but 35 seconds off the pace.
Lesser held the lead until the finish, with Garanichev putting a small gap on Fourcade with a kilometer to go, but Fourcade came back to take second place.
Nothing Different
Lesser admitted that he did nothing different today from any other day this week. "Roll, sausage and egg at breakfast, just like always. But I did shoot clean."
Top 10 Expectations
His feeling on the last loop went from happy to exhausted to happy. "I had good skis, good legs and good shooting; my expectations were to be in the top 10 and have a good race, not thinking about being the winner.
Fourcade Pleased
I felt a bit exhausted on the last loop. I thought I could catch Erik, then I did not feel so good, then Evgeniy passed me, I felt that I did not want to lose both first and second...still I am very pleased with my two weeks here in Ruhpolding. I am a bit sad to leave because the crowds were so good and supportive; it has been a great atmosphere."
High Level
Garanichev admitted this was just another good competition. "I have been at a high level ever since Östersund, so this is just another good day, but not my best of the season." At the same time, he said never expected to top Fourcade when passing; the focus was on doing his own competition and Erik ahead."
15 янв 2016
