Biathlon Olympic champion Denise Herrmann-Wick stared spellbound at the television in the interview zone and trembled for her place on the podium.

"I also sweated briefly despite the winter," said the 33-year-old with a big grin on her face.

But in the end, with third place in the Le Grand-Bornand sprint, the Saxon could celebrate her second podium finish this winter and second place in the overall World Cup standings.

But France's Sophie Chauveau, who started the race late with number 86, ensured that Herrmann-Wick's adrenaline shot through his body again after the race and the thousands of fans made the stadium tremble.

"It was a cool race in front of a unique backdrop," said Herrmann-Wick on ARD.

She narrowly missed her tenth World Cup victory because the two Swedes Anna Magnusson and Linn Persson were surprisingly a bit better.

Her performance was the almost perfect end to a day that had already begun with good news.

“The first adrenaline rush came on the way to the stadium.

Tommy came around the corner and was there by surprise," Herrmann-Wick said of her husband Thomas Wick's unexpected visit.

"It's nice when you have such support on the track, it's always a good feeling."

“Yellow is also very nice”

Herrmann-Wick started the race early with starting number 6 and was then on the results table as a potential winner for a long time.

She only missed the fifth prone target by millimeters.

If she had cleared them all, it would have been enough to win, also because she set the best running time.

However, the former world champion created a promising starting position for the pursuit on Saturday (2:15 p.m. / ARD and Eurosport).

Herrmann-Wick starts the chase race 15 seconds behind Magnusson.

"I still feel good, but you don't go into a race with the fittest legs anymore," said Herrmann-Wick, who is only 36 points behind Julia Simon from France in the overall World Cup.

"Yellow is also very beautiful," said Herrmann-Wick, alluding to the yellow jersey.

In the sprint ranking she defended her red shirt.

Magnusson celebrated her first World Cup win thanks to the fastest final loop and a clean shooting range.

"I do not know what to say.

I'm surprised, shocked and proud," she said.

In view of the strong competition in her own team, the 27-year-old was one of the outsiders beforehand.

Preuss lacks "the power"

Franziska Preuss still has some problems, although she only missed one shot.

The 28-year-old had to skip the opening weekend in Finland due to a viral illness.

"In terms of running, it was tough from the first meter," said Preuss after her 24th place.

“I don't have the power and I'm still coughing.

But it doesn't help at all.” In the pursuit, she will try to find her rhythm.

Sophie Schneider (28th), Vanessa Voigt (30th), Anna Weidel (38th) and Janina Hettich-Walz (48th), who started last in the IBU Cup, will also be part of the starting field.

For the local heroes it wasn't enough for the really big triumph.

Chauveau was second at the final split before falling behind.

Overall leader Simon did not get past 15th place.

The day before, Benedikt Doll had already achieved a podium finish for the German Ski Association.

This means that both the men on Saturday (12.10 p.m. / ARD and Eurosport) and the women can hope for further top positions in the pursuit.