BIATHLON: First World Cup individual win for Christiansen as Boe is off the podium in Soldier Hollow

There was some history made once again at Soldier Hollow in Utah, site of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, and perhaps again in the future.

For one, it was the first time in the 2018-19 World Cup that Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Boe – the dominant force on tour this season – did not win an individual event during the weekend. He had won at least once at each stop this season, but finished fifth in the Sprint and fourth in the Pursuit.

On the other hand, Norwegian fans were happy for 26-year-old Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, who won his first career World Cup race in the Sprint, just more than a second ahead of France’s Simon Desthieux.

France’s Quentin Fillon Maillet won his second race of the season in the men’s Pursuit and Norway’s Marte Olsbu Roeiseland won her third race of the season in the women’s Sprint.

Germany’s Denise Herrmann won her third career IBU World Cup title and first this season as part of a German 1-2 in the 10 km Pursuit. However, further back, the seasonal lead in the women’s World Cup changed hands as former World Junior Champion Lisa Vittozzi took the lead by 713-706 over countrywoman Dorothea Wierer. Summaries from Soldier Hollow:

IBU World Cup
Midway, Utah (USA) ~ 14-17 February 2019
(Full results here)

Men

10 km Sprint: 1. Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen (NOR), 23:29.7 (0 penalties); 2. Simon Desthieux (FRA), +1.3 (1); 3. Roman Rees (GER), +22.4 (1); 4. Erik Lesser (GER), +23.0 (0); 5. Johannes Thingnes Boe (NOR), +41.5. Also in the top 25: 14. Sean Doherty (USA), +1:03.6 (1).

12.5 km Pursuit: 1. Quentin Fillon Maillet (FRA), 30:55.8 (0); 2. Christiansen (NOR), +25.9 (1); 3. Desthieux (FRA), +47.3 (3); 4. Boe (NOR), +1:37.7 (5); 5. Lesser (GER), +1:55.1 (2). Also: 10. Doherty (USA), +2:22.8 (3).

Women

7.5 km Sprint: 1. Marte Olsbu Roeiseland (NOR), 19:47.6 (0); 2. Kaisa Makarainen (FIN), +11.5 (1); 3. Franziska Hildebrand (GER), +21.4 (0); 4. Monika Hojnisz (POL), +23.9 (0); 5. Anastasiya Kuzmina (SVK), +28.2 (1). Also in the top 25: 21. Clare Egan (USA), 1:34.1 (1).

10 km Pursuit: 1. Denise Herrmann (GER), 28:03.4 (2); 2. Hildebrand (GER), +4.2 (1); 3. Makarainen (FIN), +16.5 (3); 4. Roieseland (NOR), +27.0 (4); 5. Kuzmina (SVK), +27.0 (4). Also: 26. Susan Dunklee (USA), +2:34.5 (1); 27. Egan (USA), 2:34.9 (1).

Mixed

Single Mixed Relay: 1. Lukas Hofer/Dorothea Wierer (ITA), 35:27.9 (6); 2. Simon Eder/Lisa Theresa Hauser (AUT), +22.9 (2); 3. Antonin Guigonnat/Julia Simon (FRA), +50.2 (9). Also: 14. Sean Doherty/Susan Dunklee (USA), +2:03.1 (15).

Mixed Relay (2×7.5 km + 2×6 km): 1. France (Fillon Mallett, Desthieux, Aymonier, Chavalier), 1:03:51.4 (3); 2. Germany, +13.5 (6); 3. Norway, +1:02.2 (13); 4. Switzerland, +1:31.2 (7); 5. Sweden, +1:59.7 (5). Also: 10. United States (Alex Howe, Jake Brown, Joanne Reid, Clare Egan), +2:59.9 (5).