Italian Upset Victory – Samuelsson Just Misses Podium

Tommaso Giacomel delivered an unexpected performance, finishing first in a closely-contested men's mass start race. This was a significant moment for Giacomel as it marked his first World Cup win.

Sebastian Samuelsson started strong, achieving full marks in the first two shooting series. However, a miss in his third round caused him to lag behind, despite shooting perfectly in the final series to regain some time. Ultimately, he finished just over six seconds away from podium placement.

Björn Ferry, SVT’s commentator, provided insights on Samuelsson's performance, saying, "He does everything right, but one shot went astray, which affected his chances significantly."

In the dramatic conclusion, Giacomel managed to hold on amidst pressures from fellow competitors, notably Johannes Thingnes Bö, who announced his retirement after the season. Countless fans cheered as Giacomel crossed the finish line alone, marking a memorable moment in his career.

Samuelsson expressed his disappointment to SVT Sports, reiterating the desire to finish higher with a strong score of 19 hits, but acknowledging the tough competition ahead of him. Sturla Holm Lægreid took second place while Martin Ponsiluoma finished 18th.