Biathlon World Cup 2016 (Week 4) - Women's Pursuit Race (Highlights)

BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup 2016 (Week 4/Day 2) - Women's Pursuit Race (Highlights) 09.01.2016, Ruhpolding Dahlmeier Brings Germany Another Victory Soukalova, Wierer: Second and Third Germany?s Laura Dahlmeier won for the third time this season, finishing the women?s pursuit in 32:35.9 with one penalty. Gabriela Soukalova of Czech Republic matched Dahlmeier on the shooting range, finishing second, 7.3 seconds back. Dorothea Wierer of Italy was third, with two penalties, 53.6 seconds back. Norway's Tiril Eckhoff had three penalties but finished fourth, 57.3 seconds back. Marie Dorin Habert of France was fifth, with two penalties, 57.5 seconds back. Paulina Fialkova of Slovakia finished in sixth, with one penalty, 1:01 back. Dahlmeier versus Soukalova: Motivated Conditions changed after the men's competition, with rain, fog and some wind. After yesterday's Sprint two women who were highly motivated to win today: Soukalova, who was only .3 second from the victory, and Dahlmeier, just one step from the podium. Their battle defined the competition. Each Mistake Counts The first loop was uneventful, but Hildebrand fell off the pace after a standing penalty, dropping back to fifth. Mäkäräinen took the lead on the second loop, but a prone penalty dropped her back to third. As the competition progressed, the conditions worsened with increasing rain. More penalties in standing took her out of contention. Wire-to-Wire Win Soukalova established a 31-seconds gap before the final standing stage and approached the shooting range alone. The Czech star had a penalty, and this gave Dahlmeier an opportunity. The German shot carefully and cleaned. Last Loop Soukalova had a 13-second lead as she left the stadium, but Dahlmeier steadily moved closer to the lead. Dahlmeier managed to pass Soukalova on the last downhill curve to pull away and thrill the German crowd. Soukalova described the last loop, "When I heard about my 30-second advantage, I knew it was necessary to shoot clean at the last shooting. This did not happen." "On the last loop I started to feel so tired. I heard how Laura was breathing behind my back. Traditionally, I am not very strong on the last loop. Besides, I am not very light for this kind of snow." The last loop was not easy on Dahlmeier either. "It was very hard to fight on the last loop. When I came closer to her. On the curve I was on the left side. I gave everything on the last uphill." Dahlmeier: Third Pursuit Win This Season Dahlmeier was excited to win in front of the home crowd. "It's really good feeling. I hear so many German spectators, everybody cheers for you." Regarding pursuit win number three, she added, "I like pursuit very much. You have to shoot a lot, and the course is not as long as mass start. Most of the times I have good position after sprint, and have a certain advantage." Wierer Third Wierer started sixth, but dropped back after penalty in the second prone stage. She recovered to clean both standing stages and move to the podium. "I realized only on the last uphill that I was third. I saw Dorin Habert and Eckhoff behind me, and I knew I had to run as fast as possible. The Italian, who is having her best season this year, commented on her goals, "My goal is World Championships, but I am sure every athlete will be in good shape there."