Biathlon, Italy splendid second in mixed relay

A splendid second place, contending for victory with the super favorite of the lot.

Italy second in the mixed relay in Antholz, valid for the 2023-2024 Biathlon World Cup. The four Azzurri (Dorothea Wierer, Lisa Vittozzi, Didier Bionaz and Tommaso Giacomel) surrendered only to super favorite Norway, to whom they moreover managed to contend for a victory that would have been epic. However, the place of honor, achieved ahead of Sweden, was also excellent.

It was an uphill start for Dorothea Wierer, mainly due to the frantic pace of French Lou Jeanmonnot. L'azzurra è però perfect at the polygon, before suffering the overtaking of the Norwegian Juni Arnekleiv in the last lap and also of Germany and Switzerland. Italy was sixth at the first change, when Lisa Vittozzi took over and built another comeback: by mid-race the Azzurri were even ahead of everyone.

Didier Bionaz plays it against Tarjei Boe, but eventually suffers the overtaking of the Norwegian: Italy arrives at the last change late by 5''3. Tommaso Giacomel then has to limit himself to protecting the lead over all the chasers (each of whom è detached by more than a minute) and tries to chase Johannes Thingnes Boe. The latter instead further increases the gap, but the result remains of the highest importance.