Hauser Finishes Sixth in Kontiolahti Biathlon World Cup

In the inaugural event of the Biathlon World Cup season, held in Kontiolahti, Lisa Hauser from Tyrol achieved a commendable sixth place. The former world champion participated in a reduced 12.5-kilometer race where she missed a target. With a one-minute penalty, she crossed the finish line 26.6 seconds behind the top three positions.

The race was won by the flawless Lou Jeanmonnot from France, who celebrated her fifth World Cup victory, closely followed by Swedes Ella Halvarsson and Elvira Öberg, who finished second and third respectively.

"It was a very cool start for me, and I’m really happy with just one shooting error. Starting the season like this and being part of the Flower Ceremony feels amazing," commented Hauser. The 30-year-old athlete had trained independently of the ÖSV team throughout the preseason.

In contrast, fellow Austrian Anna Gandler missed the top-30 after three penalties, and Lea Rothschopf finished outside the top 45 despite shooting twice off target. Among the Norwegians, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold led the team to 17th place, marking a disappointing outing for them. The weekend will feature further competitions in Finland, including sprints and mass starts for both genders.