Competing without their top athletes, the Finnish men’s biathlon relay team struggled for the top positions at the beginning of the race. Slovenian hero Jakov Fak was a complete failure at the shooting range.
Joel Sippola,
Inka Henelius
The Finnish men’s biathlon relay team had not been set in advance for the relay. The team was missing those who reached the top ten in the individual World Cup race in their career Tero Seppälä, Olli Hiidensalo and Tuomas Harjula.
However, the young team performed without prejudice, and after two legs, Finland was in fifth place, more than 40 seconds away from the top.
Experience represented in the quartet Jaakko Ranta was in the mood at the shooting site, just like Saturday’s pursuit race. In the vertical position of the opening leg, he quickly shot down all the boards and momentarily lifted Finland to third place.
Known as a good skier Otto Invenius kept Finland in good shape in the second half. The talent, who turned 23 years old yesterday, was also on the shooting range, shooting down all the boards cleanly without a spare cartridge in the vertical position.
“Even in the passing lane”
Sent by Invenius Jonni Mukkala for the third part in fifth. Young Mukkala shot one penalty and brought Finland to the exchange in eighth place.
– Yes, this was a bit stressful. The boys of quite a place had failed. The ski glided incredibly well, Mukkala rejoiced.
Ranta also praised the equipment.
– It was a good feeling. Continued where yesterday’s last puck left off. It was a good ride and I was able to catch the bow when upright.
– Maintenance had gotten us good skis. Even got to the passing lane today. Luisto was on our side today, Ranta said.
Anchor Jonni Mustonen fell three places, with Finland in the final results, thus 11th. Norway took the win before France and Germany.
The action of the world champion was confusing
The most unlucky of the day was the experienced from Slovenia Jakov Fak. Fak, who took the second leg, brought Slovenia to the prone shooting position in fourth.
Then the trouble started. The Slovenian, known as a sure shooter, was rattling around with his gun and didn’t hit the target even once, despite his three spare cartridges.
Urheilu’s commentator Johannes Oikarinen and commentator Ville Kotikumpu wondered about Fak’s actions.
– However, Fak is an experienced athlete. He doesn’t know what to do. What the hell, where is he shooting, Oikarinen was amazed.
– It suddenly comes to mind, has the gun hit something? However, he is a pretty reliable shooter, Kotikumpu reflected.
Fak had no less than five penalty rounds.
– Fak can spend time working there. Five penalty rounds. We have to calculate a long math. When you go around and around, you can wonder what’s going on here. I don’t know when he has gone around five penalty rounds, the commentary stated.
Fak is a two-time world champion in the sport from 2012 and 2015.
1. Norway 1.15.38,5 0+5 Lägreid, Bö, Bö, Christianse
2. France + 28.7 0+6
3. Germany + 1.06,9 1+9
4. Italy + 1.24,1 0+11
5. Ukraine + 2.24,9 0+3
6. Sweden + 2.36,4 2+14
7. Switzerland + 4.01,6 0+12
8. Austria + 4.23,5 3+10
9. Slovenia + 4.42,1 5+7
10. Romania+ 4.46,9 0+6
11. Finland + 5.04,0 4+13 Ranta, Invenius, Mustonen, Mukkala
Updated 16:00: Corrected the name to Jakov, not Jaroslav.