Franziska Preuss was all alone at the shooting range and had the second World Cup victory in her biathlon career in mind.

But then came the first missed shot – after the penalty loop that followed, the competition had rushed.

Instead of Preuß, individual Olympic champion Denise Herrmann made it from the German point of view in the penultimate mass start of the season in Otepää as second on the podium, for the fourth time in this World Cup season.

Only Swede Elvira Öberg was faster on Saturday in Estonia's winter capital.

One day after her 28th birthday, Preuss finished fifth, 8.1 seconds short of her first World Cup success in over three years.

3.3 seconds after a penalty loop it was only third place.

"I didn't give it much thought.

I hit my rhythm normally.

One can go wrong," she said of her last shooting.

"Sure," said Preuss, "that's annoying now, but I can't always expect to shoot clean sheets four times.

That's why I'm satisfied, and also with fifth place.” The good performance of the German ski hunters was completed by Vanessa Voigt, second in the sprint, as sixth in the mass start.

Franziska Hildebrand came in 20th place, Vanessa Hinz in 27th place.

"That's biathlon," said Denise Herrmann, not referring to her teammate's missed shot, but to her own race.

The 33-year-old came from 25th place after the first shooting session, but steadily worked her way up the field.

After 12.5 kilometers and two penalties, she was 4.5 seconds behind the winner Elvira Öberg.

She was 0.3 seconds ahead of third-placed Norwegian Marte Olsbu Röiseland, who had intercepted her in the final sprint.

"I didn't even think about the end result," Herrmann said on ARD.

Frenchman Quentin Fillon Maillet was previously crowned the new biathlon king.

Behind the Norwegian Vetle Sjastad Christiansen, the double Olympic champion finished the mass start and was completely exhausted afterwards.

A middle place would have been enough to win the overall World Cup ranking for the first time.

"My goal was not to finish in the top 20, but to win," the 29-year-old gave an insight into his work ethic.

“I'm happy that I was able to fight for victory.

I love races like that.”

Third place went to another Norwegian in Sivert Guttorm Bakken.

In fifth place, Erik Lesser was the best of the five German starters.

After 15 kilometers, the 33-year-old Thuringian was 38.6 seconds behind the clean-shooting Christiansen after a penalty loop.

"I'm very happy with one mistake in such a close race," said Lesser.

Eleventh was Philipp Nawrath (2 penalties/+ 1:03.5 minutes).

Benedikt Doll (3/1:26.8) finished the race in 14th place, directly followed by Roman Rees (1/1:40.6).

Johannes Kühn came in 18th (4/2.08.5).

With three races still to be completed, Fillon Maillet has an unassailable lead of 245 points over his compatriot Emilien Jacquelin.

He is the successor of the Norwegian Johannes Thingnes Bö.

The four-time Beijing Olympic champion, who recently won the overall standings three times in a row, has already ended the season.