Perfect Eckhoff takes pursuit victory as Boe leads staggering Norway comeback in relay

A perfect shooting performance helped Tiril Eckhoff take the women’s pursuit at Hochfilzen on Sunday.

Third placed Norway's Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, einner Norway's Tiril Eckhoff and Second placed Sweden's Hanna Oeberg celebrate after the IBU Biathlon World Cup women 10 km pursuit competition in Hochfilzen, Austria, on December 15, 2019

Image credit: Getty Images

Eckhoff set off eighth with ground to make up on World Cup leader Dorothea Wierer who won the sprint on Friday.

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However Wierer struggled with her early shooting, missing two in her first shoot and then one in each of the next three.

Hochfilzen

Boe in typically dominant form with Pursuit victory

14/12/2019 at 15:51

That opened the door for the rest of the chasing pack and Eckhoff took advantage alongside compatriot and close friend Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, who didn’t miss a shot in her first two.

Whilst Eckhoff continued to press home her advantage Tandrevold fell away and although she secured third she was passed by Swedish number one Hanna Oeberg.

“I am very happy today; it was my first 20! I was really emotional when I made it, so I could not have been happier." Eckhoff said afterwards.

"And especially when Ingrid, we were standing there together; it was amazing!”

Highlights: Eckhoff wins perfect Pursuit

Video credit: TNT Sports

France’s Justine Braisaz chased Tandrevold hard but in the end had to settle for fourth.

Wierer finished tenth to cap off a disappointing day for the Italians, who saw Lisa Vittozzi have another difficult day as she finished 25th.

Eckhoff’s impressive victory, only one other woman shot perfectly, rounds off a strong weekend for Norway after they also took victory in the women’s pursuit and have seen Johannes Thingnes Boe in dominant form on the men’s side.

And it was Boe who shone during the men's pursuit.

Coming into the final leg he had well over half a minute to make up on the German team but he reined in Benedikt Doll with a ridiculous display of skiing.

Boe shot rapidly in the final section but missed a couple, but his pace meant that the gap between him and Doll, who also missed two, was down to 13.8s going into the final stretch.