Le Grand Bornard, Shining Blue: Dorothea Wierer third, Lisa Vittozzi fourth

Great performance by Dorothea Wierer who is third without mistakes in the sprint that opened the World Cup stage in Le Grand Bornard, France. The Italian was perfect at the polygon, matching Lisa Vittozzi who trailed her in the standings for a third and fourth place in the race won by Sweden&#8217s Hanna Öberg in 19’24”9 with 3”3 over host Lou Jeanmonnot. Instead, it was 11”4 seconds Wierer’s gap, with Vittozzi in her wake at 14”9. Three seconds of difference between the two only Italian women able to win the overall World Cup in their careers, three seconds apart at the end of a test that was majestic on every front, especially at the range.

Marco Enzo Venturini

Unbelievable release times for both the South Tyrolean and the Sappadine, with Wierer marking podium number 52 at the individual level in a career always capable of touching up her records. It was her second podium finish of the season after her success in the Östersund individual event, her fourth counting also the two second places in the relays, also in Sweden. A few days after her exhilarating success in the Hochfilzen pursuit, Vittozzi confirmed her top position and saw the podium close in her turn. Behind the two azzurrre is fifth Slovak Paulina Fjalkova with Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen sixth: all of the top six made no mistakes in the shot. The placings of Wierer and Vittozzi launch important promises ahead of Saturday’s pursuit.

“I did not expect this continuity at a high level, especially today that I was feeling the heavy races at the beginning of the race – emphasized an enthusiastic Dorothea Wierer at the end of the day -. Finding two precise and fast ranges was crucial. Definitely this is a good start in this season, in many aspects: on my feet I am shooting well, I focused on some details that I missed last year. Every day I feel different, I hope to get my energy back after Christmas and be at my best in February. Come back at 40-plus like Vonn? No, I don”.

“I tried to do mine and manage the race as best I could, giving 100% and I am happy with my performance– said instead Lisa Vittozzi, author in turn of a capital test, as much on the shot as on skis -. I am happy that I shot well, then of course congratulations to those who came in front of me”.

“In the first races I needed to loosen up, now I am getting better inside the race and I think it will get better and better. Today I am starting to feel the fatigue, but I am skiing well: in the final maybe I felt that I lacked a little bit’ of energy. I am happy to be there in front, I am happy with this continuity”, added Vittozzi.