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Pokljuka (dpa) - Before the start, the German biathletes shone in the blazing sun of Pokljuka, still unbridled self-confidence, joked and encouraged themselves.
After the next medalless World Championship race, Franziska Preuss tried not to let her disappointment grow too great.
«Today it works.
It is a bitter result again, but nothing more was possible.
It's just really tight, that's biathlon, ”said Franziska Preuss, who was the best German in seventh place in the classic over 15 kilometers.
Especially bitter for the German women: Despite good performances, they just missed precious metal in all three previous individual races, Denise Herrmann was fourth in the sprint and fifth in the pursuit.
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While the Czech Marketa Davidova ran to her first World Championship title thanks to a perfect shooting performance in Slovenia and Sweden's Olympic champion Hanna Öberg and the Norwegian Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold (one mistake each) relegated to the places, Preuss & Co now have to go for the relay on Saturday and the final mass start the next day pull out the positive and hold up the attack mode.
"We definitely want to attack again," said Herrmann, who was only 15th.
For the first time since 2013, the German team went without a medal after the first week of the World Cup.
It is questionable whether the so far disappointing men will get the first badge on Wednesday (2.30 p.m. / ZDF and Eurosport).
Preuss, who figured out legitimate chances for a medal again and whose friend Simon Schempp, who has since resigned, had trusted her a lot, shot a two-minute penalty.
But since the competition did not get through without a mistake, the 26-year-old was now on a medal rank.
But their hopes were just as quickly disappointed as those of ex-world champion Herrmann.
Like the former cross-country skier, this time Preuss could not keep up with the leaders on the difficult routes.
"When running, I had to bite more than the days before," said the 26-year-old.
Preuss was only 17th in the running time, Herrmann was only 21. “I'm not a machine.
I notice that it doesn't slip that easily on the track.
My muscles are weak, but I hope that I can now use the break to have fresher legs on the weekend than is currently the case, ”said 32-year-old Herrmann.
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The Saxon, who won the individual race at the Pokljuka without a mistake a year ago, missed twice and, like in her pursuit, was unable to show her strength over the longest biathlon distance.
And Herrmann has an explanation.
“The last few years have always been in good shape at major events.
But this year I trained more aggressively in preparation, also with a view to next year's Olympics.
It's not going to work out yet, ”said Herrmann.
Record world champion and ARD expert Magdalena Neuner understands this.
“It makes sense to stimulate the Olympics.
That's why you shouldn't overestimate her shape now, "said the 34-year-old.
Vanessa Hinz (3 mistakes), second in the World Championship last year, was unable to repeat her outstanding performance as sixth in pursuit and crossed the finish line in 33rd place after three mistakes.
Maren Hammerschmidt (2) was 34 on her World Cup comeback after two years and her first appearance in Pokljuka. “We are at the top of the world here, you can't afford more than one mistake for the very top.
It was just mediocre today, ”said the 28-year-old Hinz.
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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210216-99-464081 / 4
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