With an excellent ski and good skiing shape, Tiril Eckhoff laid the base for her victory in Nove Mesto. Although at first many other athletes also shot very well, after the second shooting she was already twelve seconds ahead of Paulina Fialkova (SVK, Fischer ***) and 21 seconds ahead of other zero-shooters, so that she could afford a penalty lap in the fourth shooting and was still clearly ahead because no other athlete was shooting clean four times. At the finish she was 25 seconds ahead of Hanna Öberg, who also had to go into the penalty loop once. "It was difficult to ski. It's Easter snow, sad snow", said the Norwegian about the spring snow conditions. "I was very depressed in Antholz, and then I did a lot for shooting at home." Franziska Preuss was able to stay ahead of the faster Justine Braisaz (FRA, Fischer ***) on their final lap and made it onto the podium. Monika Hojnisz-Starega (POL, Fischer **) finished sixth ahead of Kaisa Mäkäräinen (FIN, Fischer ***) and Emma Lunder (CAN, Fischer **). Valj Semerenko (UKR, Fischer ***) finished ninth ahead of Larisa Kuklina (RUS, Fischer ***).
Even more dominant than his teammate was Johannes Thingnes Bø, who skied away from everyone. Only his teammates were able to keep up, which confirmed the presumption of the perfect ski, while the French had clear problems with the material. With three penalties, the Norwegian made it exciting, but the clean shooting Emilien Jacquelin (FRA) had no chance against him on the final round. "Today it was a wax fight - and not a fair one. Our wax team destroyed the field. Although I missed three targets, I was able to fight for victory", said Johannes Thingnes Bø. Johannes Dale (NOR, Fischer ***) was third best Norwegian in sixth with two penalties, Quentin Fillon Maillet (FRA, Fischer ***) was only eighth despite only one penalty loop. Tarjei Bø (NOR, Fischer ***) took tenth place.
=> Mass start Nove Mesto (CZE)
* = Fischer skis
** = Fischer skis and bindings
*** = Fischer skis, bindings and boots
