IBU Biathlon 2015 World Championships - Men's 4 x 7,5 km Team Race 14.03.2015, Kontiolahti Germany Men Take Relay, Matching the Women Dominating Win The German men's team of Erik Lesser, Daniel Boehm, Arnd Peiffer and Simon Schempp matched their female counterparts who won the women's relay yesterday, by winning the Gold medal today in 1:13:49.5 with three spares. Norway won the Silver medal with six spares, 15.4 seconds back. France won the Bronze medal, with four spares, 33.6 seconds back. Fourth place went to Russia with Austria in fifth and Czech Republic in sixth. With the temperature at +6 C on sunny windless day, the big crowds of fans, many coming from Russia, showed up for this late afternoon competition. Great Battle Simon Fourcade, Ole Einar Björndalen and Erik Lesser had a great battle on the first leg; all three shot clean with 10 shots, immediately taking charge of the competition. By the first exchange, Björndalen had Norway 1.3 seconds ahead of France with Germany at 6.3 seconds back. Beatrix and Hofer Leg two with Beatrix for France, Tarjei Boe, Daniel Boehm and Lukas Hofer was equally as competitive. Boehm and Boe cleaned prone while Beatrix used a spare. In standing, the French musician/biathlete used a spare but left his rivals on the shooting range, with Hofer just behind. By the exchange, it remained Beatrix with Hofer, even after losing a ski pole .7 seconds back and Boehm 3.1 seconds back. Boe tagged his brother Johannes 11.2 seconds back. Peiffer in Control Arnd Peiffer cleaned prone faster than the sprint World Champion Boe to give Germany a two-second lead, with Michal Slesingr matching and now up to the third spot, and France 15.8 seconds back in sixth. Peiffer was just as good in standing; cleaning quick and fast, getting a 13.5 second lead on Slesingr who used two spares, and Boe who also used two. Fillon Maillet now had France back up to the number 4 spot as they headed to the final exchange. Simon Schempp left the stadium with a 15.3 second lead that Peiffer gave him, with Emil Hegle Svendsen and Ondrej Moravec together in second and third. Slovenia after brilliant leg by Jakov Fak was 4th, 39 seconds back, just .2 seconds ahead of Martin Fourcade. Schempp cleaned prone with ease as did Svendsen, but the gap was still 13.3 seconds. Fourcade used a spare but moved ahead of Moravec who used all three. Schempp used a spare but Svendsen also did and they left with the same gap, Schempp ahead by 15 seconds. Fourcade cleaned, but was 25 seconds back with Russia in fourth, another 15 seconds back. Nothing changed in the final 2.5K loop. Focused Second leg Boehm said, "We were really focused and I could feel the tension before the race, but now we are sitting here and it was OK." Peiffer added, "I was more nervous than the individual races. My tactic today was to do well at standing shooting but it was not so special! Self-confidence Schempp, after a hard Championships so far, but sealed the Gold today commented, "I got some self-confidence in the individual and only in the last 200 meters was I able to enjoy the race today. Now I am happy and proud to be a part of this team." Congrats to Germany Svendsen said he was confident he would hold second place in the final loop. "I just tried to ski fast and did not look back; congrats to Germany they were better than us today." Team Simon Fourcade who set up the French effort in the first leg emphasized the team aspect. "Our whole team was determined to get a medal; it was not about me in the relay but the team." Martin added, "We are really satisfied with this third place."

• published: 14 Mar 2015
• views: 36