Darya Domracheva came seventh in 10-kilometer pursuit at the Biathlon World Cup 2015 in Kontiolahti

The French biathlete Marie Dorin Habert prevailed in the pursuit racing at the World Biathlon Cup 2015 in Kontiolahti, according to BelTA.

Dorin Habert covered the 10-kilometer distance with four shooting ranges for 30.07.7 minutes and got victorious in spite of three penalty laps. The French athlete’s triumph is a real mystery, all the more not so long ago the she returned to biathlon after having given birth to a child. At the point of the event, she was the top-rank sprint biathlon racer.

The silver prizewinner Laura Dahlmeier got off fourth and came of second best (+15.3 sec.; 2 misses). The Polish biathlete Weronika Nowakowska-Ziemniak joined the three leader top of the race (+31.6 sec.; 3) and deserved the bronze medal.

Darya Domracheva proved to be an undisputable leader of the Belarusian national team. The national biathlon star started the 25th almost two minutes later after the leader of the pursuit. Her perfect shooting at the first firing point let Dasha come up with the leading twelve racers, though she failed to draw level with Dorin Habert, who was taking the lead. The second lap wasfar more prospective, but her miss at the next firing position resulted in a penalty lap and a wide margin of approximately two minutes from the leader. Due to the main contenders’ mediocre shooting,their rivals managed to cut the lead. On the third lap Domracheva reached the 7th position (+1.18 sec), still one miss at the final firing point made her give up hope for the award. As a result Darya finished 7th because of two penalty laps (+1.04.5 min), though she got ahead of her primary rival Kaisa Makarainen, who took 12th place (1.28 min.; 3). The race resulted in 36 points for Domracheva and 29 points for Makarainen. In overall standings they have 889 and 862 points respectively.

Darya’s teammates Nastassia Dubarezava and Nadzeya Pisarava occupy the thirty third place (+3.50.5; 5) and the fiftieth (+6.23.1; 8).  

The German biathlete Erik Lesser is a triumphant of the men’s pursuit race in Kontiolahti. He got off fifth 30 seconds later after the sprint winner Johannes Bø and outfooted the others in the 12.5-kilometer pursuit with four firing ranges with the result 30.47.8 minutes, having shown perfect shooting. The Russian athlete Anton Shipulin came second (+17.0 sec.; 1) and Tarjei Bø finished third (+18.7 sec.; 1).

The Belarusian team results are following: Yuryi Liadov – place 17 (+1.37.7 min.; 3), Vladimir Chepelin – place 38 (+3.11.5 min.; 5) and Dmitri Dyuzhev – place 48 (+4.23.5 min.; 5).

The women’s sprint race was held in rather severe weather conditions. It hindered Dorin Habert in no way, who won the sprint (22.16.8 min), although she missed once at shooting. The ‘dark horse’ Weronika Nowakowska-Ziemniak got off Dorin Habert’s back and trailed by just 9.6 sec with the ideal shooting results. The bronze prizewinner Valentina Semerenko came third (+19.7 sec.; 1).

The top racers of the Cup total ranking with Domracheva at the head performed less successful, as well as the men’s team. The highest 15th place belongs to Veronica Vitkova (+1.22.5; 4), who was the third according to overall ranking, but receded from a position. Domracheva still had a possibility to lead the race even after her miss at the first firing position, but next five misses thwarted her chances. So she came 25th (+1.58.1; 5). Her main opponent Makarainen performed much worth and finished 35th (+2.20.7 min).

Nastassia Dubarezava showed the best result of all the Belarusian athletes, who was just a stone’s throw from the best ten leaders. She got 11th (+1.10.6;2), her teammate Pisarava finished 50th (+2.46; 4). Another Belarusian biathlete Nadezhda Skardino came 70th and dropped out of pursuit qualification (+3.37.5; 4).

Johannes Bø from Norway became the champion of the planet after he prevailed in sprint having covered the 10-kilometer distance in 24.38 minutes and missed only once. His elder brother sevenfold World Champion Tarjei Bø crossed the line third 25.3 seconds later after Johannes. The 29 years old Canadian biathlete Nathan Smith wedged between brothers and came second. It was his first success for the whole sports carrier.

Yuryi Lyadov turned up to be the most successful in our Belarusian men’s quartet, who finished 16th (+59.7; 2). Vladimir Chepelin occupies place 43 (+1.49.2; 3) and Dmitri Dyuzhev became 56th (+2.37.3; 2). Unfortunately, Dmitri Abashev didn’t pass since he occupies the 70th position in total ranking (+3.09.3; 4).

The participants will have two days-off up to the March 11, when women’s 15-kilometer individual race will have start at 19.15. On March 12, the men’s individual race is to be held at 19.15. The relay competition 4x6 (19.15)  will define the triumphant among women on March 13, and  on March 14, the men’s relay 4x7,5 at 18.30 will be conducted. The termination of the biathlon event will be marked by women’s and men’s mass-starts at 15.30 and 18.15 on March 15.

The final stage of the World Cup will be held in Khanty-Mansiysk from 19 to 22 of March.

Alexey Tulko, 4th year, the Interpreters’ Department, MSLU.

Photo by https://www.facebook.com/pages/Darya-Domracheva