Best Swiss woman in 19th place: setback at the home premiere for biathletes

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 fmXrkB”>

This is not how the Swiss biathletes had imagined the World Cup premiere in their own country. Lenzerheide’s best local hero is Lena Häcki-Gross, who ranks 19th. Last weekend in Hochfilzen she finished second on the World Cup podium. But in the Swiss team, which was hit by a flu wave and the coronavirus, she is only one of the few who took part in the 7.5 km sprint race with full force.

It is not because of the mileage that the 28-year-old from Engelberg cannot move forward. But the three penalty loops after just as many mistakes on the shooting range are ultimately too much of a burden. “I reacted incorrectly to the wind when I shot in a prone position,” Häcki-Gross says afterwards: “That is very annoying.”

Lea Meier is the only one of the Swiss quartet who managed to achieve all ten goals. The Prättigau resident finished in 31st place, right behind teammate Amy Baserga, and scored some World Cup points, just like the former world junior champion and Aita Gasparin (34th). This means that all Swiss women qualify for the pursuit on Saturday.

“Had trouble eating”

Baserga admits afterwards that the tension before the home premiere also played a role in this first race in front of the home crowd. She speaks of a “particularly noticeable nervousness” before the start. And Häcki-Gross says: “I even had trouble eating at breakfast because of it.”

The top international competition has done better: the victory goes to the French Olympic champion Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, who triumphed ahead of the Norwegian Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold and the Italian Lisa Vittozzi. (SDA/mpe)

Source : Blick