Biathlon World Cup 3 (2015-2016) - Women's 12,5km Mass Start race

BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup 2015-2016 (Week 3/Day 4) - Women's 12,5km Mass Start race
20.12.2015, Pokljuka
Second Win of New Season for Kaisa

Soukalova is Second and Back in Yellow
Finland’s Kaisa Mäkäräinen won today’s women’s mass start in 34:40.2 with just a single penalty early in the competition. Clean-shooting Gabriela Soukalova of Czech Republic finished second, 11.8 seconds back while regaining the Yellow Bib she lost in yesterday’s pursuit. Russia’s Olga Podchufarova, also shooting clean had her first World Cup podium in third place, 27.7 seconds back.

Soukalova's teammate Veronika Vitkova finished fourth, 40.2 seconds back with one penalty. Nadezhda Skardino of Belarus shot clean, but finished fifth, 48 seconds back. Ukraine's Olena Pidhrushna was sixth, with one penalty 50.5 seconds back.

Happy Kaisa

The women started in the same conditions as men earlier today with no wind and comfortable temperatures. In the first two loops Norway's Fenne Hilde and Tiril Eckhoff dominated the competition. At the first standing stage, Fenne and Eckhoff picked up three and two penalties, respectively, dropping them out of contention.. Vitkova, Soukalova, and Mäkäräinen cleaned to move to the top of the standings. Mäkäräinen powered away from the two Czech stars on an uphill and continued to pull away. The win was a surprise for Mäkäräinen. "When I had one penalty in the first prone, I thought the day would not be that good. But I decided it would be my last mistake for this competition."

Pokljuka: A Special Place

Pokljuka is a special place for all three women on the podium. Mäkäräinen won last year's mass start. Soukalova had her first victory here. She commented, "I am so happy, I was feeling that I lost energy from yesterday. My teammate Veronika Vitkova was helping me on the track. Pokljuka is my favorite destination, I would like to continue to be on the podium here."

Soukalova is Back in Yellow

She commented on regaining the Yellow Bib. "This is really good motivation for me. I know that the season will be long. We will have a lot of competitions, and girls are very strong. We will see."

First World Cup Podium

Podchufarova was happy, excited and relived with her first visit to the World Cup podium and the first for the Russian women this season. She battled with Vitkova until the final standing stage where the young Russian cleaned and Vitkova went to the penalty loop. She commented, "I am not surprised. I had a certain plan before the competitions, and everything went according to the plan. I was almost the last one at the start, as I was trying to take it slowly and save my energy for the final loops."

She commented on the slow start for her team. "I think it's because of the last preparation period. It was hard for us to start. With this podium things will get easier, as the pressure will be off."

Видео Biathlon World Cup 3 (2015-2016) - Women's 12,5km Mass Start race канала International Biathlon Union