– I was surprised when Simon pulled a round. I felt strong on the sprint lap and received good coaching from Johannes Lukas and kept my cool and heard how Simon shouted to his leaders and let go before I was about to put in the jerk so it wasn’t so exciting, says Elvira Öberg.
In the goal net, surprised and happy teammates rushed forward.
– It was incredibly exciting. It’s biathlon at its best, says Anna Magnusson to SVT Sport.
Simon: “I hope it’s a cramp”
The victory was lost to France when Julia Simon shot a penalty round after four misses in the last standing shootout. Elvira Öberg shot full and they almost collided when Simon came out of his penalty round.
On the last hill, Simon suffered a muscle injury or cramp and became completely stationary, clutching his thigh. Öberg was able to march towards victory, while a heavily grimacing Simon managed to salvage second place for France ahead of Norway.
– I feel better than after the finish line and we will have to wait and see, but I feel good. Don’t know if it was a cramp, but tests will show. I hope it’s a cramp, says Simon.
– I have never seen anything like it, says Björn Ferry.
Anna Magnusson switched to third after the first stage and sent out Sara Andersson 17 seconds behind leading France.
21-year-old Andersson made his World Cup debut in the relay and tightened the bow. Moraåkaren Andersson shot full in the first prone shooting and joined the Czech Republic’s Marketa Davidova and France’s Justine Braisaz-Bouchet in the standing shooting with 200 pulse.
There she went on a penalty round after four missed shots.
“Don’t know what happened”
– I don’t know what happened when standing. It didn’t feel too bad, but the shots slipped out. It was sad that there was a penalty round, but now the debut is done anyway. It was fun to experience this with such awesome teammates, says Andersson.
She replaced Hanna Öberg in seventh 49.1 seconds leading France. It was then 26 seconds up to the podium.
Hanna Öberg shot full but had to pull the track in the first competition after illness. She sent out little sister Elvira in third, 32 seconds behind France.
– I’m really super happy with the shooting, there were some nerves too. The skiing will only get better and better, says Hanna Öberg.