Dresden City Biathlon: Puff and Strelow Rise to the Podium

Dresden City Biathlon: Puff and Strelow Rise to the Podium

The inaugural Dresden City Biathlon proved to be a triumphant event for the German team, showcasing remarkable performances that led to two podium finishes. Johanna Puff clinched second place in the women's race, while Justus Strelow secured third in the men's competition.

In the women's event, Italian competitor Lisa Vittozzi emerged as the victor, completing the challenging 11.5 km course on roller skis—punctuated by four shooting rounds—despite contending with a 10-second penalty and seven reloads caused by a broken pole during the final lap. Vittozzi finished 9.3 seconds ahead of Puff, who managed to complete the race with only one reload. The battle for third was fiercely contested, with Norwegian Karoline Knotten edging out Franziska Preuß in a thrilling photo finish.

The men's race concluded in an exhilarating sprint among Slovenia's Jokov Fak, Norway's Johannes Thingnes Boe, and Strelow. Although Strelow demonstrated remarkable speed in the final stretch, he was unable to surpass Boe before crossing the finish line. Both Strelow and Fak had to make five reloads during their shooting, unlike Boe, who successfully navigated the course with only two extra shots, despite experiencing some unexpected challenges over the demanding 13.8 km distance.

Reflecting on his performance, Strelow shared, "I came through the summer well, and on Monday, I will head to France for further preparation for the winter." His comments highlight his enthusiasm and readiness for the forthcoming competitive season.