Denise Herrmann started with number three and set the fastest time that nobody could beat. That was not so easy today because of the gusty wind and it is therefore all the more surprising that the former cross-country skier, who has only been a biathlete for four years, hit all ten targets. The 31-year-old was surprised by this and looked three more times over her shoulder to see if it was really her shooting lane, where all five targets were white. "I did a good race. Probably I need the silence around me, I'm used to it from cross-country skiing. I needed that at the shooting range and I did a good job", she said. A little trick helped her to be successful by staying behind Larisa Kuklina (RUS, Fischer ***) before the shooting, who had started a minute before her. "I stayed behind the Russian to take advantage of the chance of windshadow because the wind came from the right - starting number three wasn't a good chance to have someone next to me", she grinned. Mari Eder (FIN, Fischer ***) missed the podium by ten seconds. Tiril Eckhoff (NOR, Fischer ***), the dominator of many sprint races this season, missed the first target in her standing stage and put the rifle down again. Nevertheless, she made another shooting mistake, but was not dissatisfied with fifth place. "It's very special. Spooky, that's a fitting word. It's a shame that there is no audience", said the Norwegian. "I am very satisfied, after the World Championships I was very disappointed and tired." Hanna Öberg (SWE, Fischer ***) finished sixth, Monika Hojnisz-Starega (POL, Fischer **) came in ninth ahead of Justine Braisaz (FRA, Fischer ***).
* = Fischer skis
** = Fischer skis and bindings
*** = Fischer skis, bindings and boots
