Cross-country skiing Olympic champion Katharina Hennig missed her next podium place in Lillehammer after a mishap on the last lap.
The 26-year-old did very well in the mass start over 20 kilometers in the classic technique on Sunday in the Norwegian winter sports stronghold, but then stepped on the ski pole herself, had to change it and thus robbed her of her chances.
Hennig had broken away with the Swedes Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson with around 2.5 kilometers to go before she bisected her left stick through no fault of their own.
Hennig fell back briefly, fought back with the chasing field, but then lacked the necessary strength in the final.
She finally crossed the finish line in seventh place, 4.3 seconds behind the winner, Karlsson.
Norway's Tiril Udnes Weng came second ahead of Andersson.
"It's really annoying.
The three of us were already gone, and then my stick breaks.
I could really bite my butt," said Hennig on ARD: "But I already have two podium places, it's a dream, and that's why I'm stopping to get angry now."
As the second best German, Victoria Carl took 17th place.
Hennig and Carl won the gold medal in the team sprint together at the Olympic Winter Games in China in February.
Geiger third again
Combined Olympic champion Vinzenz Geiger meanwhile stormed onto the podium at the end of the World Cup in Lillehammer with his second grandiose race to catch up within 24 hours.
In the 52nd career victory of local hero Jarl Magnus Riiber, the 25-year-old from Oberstdorf fought his way up from 14th to third place.
On Saturday, after 18th place in jumping, Geiger also achieved third place.
The superior Riiber prevailed 47.5 seconds ahead of his compatriot Jens Luraas Oftebro, who had won ahead of Riiber on Saturday.
Geiger was 1:02.7 minutes behind.
Johannes Rydzek also showed a strong performance as fourth after 13th place in jumping.