Achieves second World Cup victory: – My best race ever

Endre Strømsheim impressed significantly in this season’s first individual World Cup race.

The 27-year-old shot flawlessly in Kontiolahti, hitting all 20 targets for the first time in a World Cup event. However, his lead was hard-fought.

Starting ten positions back was last year's World Cup winner, Johannes Thingnes Bø, who missed one shot but came out just eight seconds behind Strømsheim after the final shooting stage. This set up a tense final round for victory.

Strømsheim proved strong enough to fend off Thingnes Bø, finishing three seconds ahead at the finish line.

With this victory, Strømsheim secured his second career World Cup win, the first being a pursuit start in Oberhof last year. This victory also earns him the yellow jersey.

"It was really nice. When I woke up today, I didn’t really believe I could do it, so I am very happy now. It was a wonderful surprise," Strømsheim told TV 2.

"This is my best race ever, that’s for sure," he continued.

Despite finishing second, Thingnes Bø responded impressively after a disappointing opening weekend at Natrudstilen. He achieved the fastest skiing time of all participants, demonstrating good form.

"It’s frustrating. You want to win, especially when you lose by just three seconds. But around breakfast today, I told the others that I would settle for a fifth place today, so a second place is very good under the circumstances," Thingnes Bø admitted to Max.

Even though he made a clear improvement over two weeks, the shooting star of biathlon gave a warning to his competitors.

"I still have more to give, but I’m very satisfied with what I did at the shooting range. I was as calm as I could be and was aggressive on the track as well. Normally, that would be enough for victory, but today it was just not enough."

Sturla Holm Lægreid also hit all 20 targets but couldn’t match his fellow teammates' performance in the snow. Nevertheless, he took the third podium place, ensuring a Norwegian sweep in Finland.

"It feels like you’ve passed an exam and received top marks. It feels really, really good," Sturla Holm Lægreid said to Max.

He realized early on that winning would be tough with two hungry Norwegians in the chase.

"But I’ll take every podium I can get this early in the season. I know my form is on the rise, so I’m very satisfied," Lægreid concluded.