The biathlon season opener at Sjusjøen featured thrilling mass start races, with Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold narrowly defeating Maren Hjelmeset Kirkeeide in a dramatic sprint, while Endre Strømsheim outmaneuvered Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen on the final climb to claim victory, setting an exciting tone for the season ahead.

Kirkeeide Pushed Tandrevold to the Finish Line 

Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold leaves Sjusjøen with two victories in the biathlon season opener. But Sunday’s mass start was one of her most exciting races yet. Maren Hjelmeset Kirkeeide refused to give up, and both were credited with the same time after a thrilling sprint finish. 

“I know Maren is faster than me in a sprint. We’ve trained a lot together and done many intervals. That’s why I had to try to tire her out as much as possible on the final lap,” says Tandrevold, who still couldn’t shake Kirkeeide. 

On the home stretch, Maren tried to pass on the inside, but Ingrid held the lane and managed to stretch her toe over the line just in time. 

Tandrevold held the lead until the final shooting, but she received two penalty laps compared to Kirkeeide’s one. That gave the red-haired skier from Markane a slight advantage heading into the final lap. Tandrevold caught up, but she couldn’t create the same gap as in earlier laps. 

For Maren Hjelmeset Kirkeeide, it was a big redemption after a disappointing sprint on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold gained the confidence she was hoping for ahead of the World Cup opener in Kontiolahti. 

Dorothea Wierer also showed flashes of her old form, with the Italian star claiming the final podium spot ahead of Karoline Knotten. Karoline Erdal was fast on her skis but fell behind after the first shooting. She fought her way back to finish fifth. 

A surprising eighth place went to Mari Torsteinsrud from Ål, who did not start in the first group but still managed to beat several national team athletes. 

Emilie Ågheim Kalkenberg and Gro Njølstad Randby, who had podium finishes in Saturday’s sprint, missed too many shots this time and couldn’t replicate their earlier success. Among the national team athletes, Juni Arnekleiv finished 12th, and Ida Lien placed 15th, both likely hoping for better results. 

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Top 5 – Women

1. Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold (NOR), (0-0-1-2), 37:15.8
2. Maren Hjelmeset Kirkeeide (NOR), (0-0-0-1), +0.0
3. Dorothea Wierer (ITA), (1-0-0-1), +31.2
4. Karoline Offigstad Knotten (NOR), (0-1-0-2), +1:11.0
5. Karoline Erdal (NOR), (2-1-0-1), +1:38.7

Results can be found HERE 

Parked Vetle and Sealed the Mass Start Victory

Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen is known for having one of the best finishes in biathlon. Endre Strømsheim knew this well. That’s why he used his only weapon and won the men’s mass start at Sjusjøen. 

“I knew I had to take him on the last climb. I’m lighter than him and knew I had a chance there,” says Endre, who pulled off the feat of distancing Saturday’s sprint winner in the final, steep uphill before the finish. 

“It’s great for motivation ahead of the World Cup. I wasn’t at my best in Beitostølen last week, and yesterday didn’t go as expected either,” the winner reflected. 

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However, the mass start made it harder for the national team leadership to decide on the last man for the World Cup opener in Finland in two weeks. Saturday’s strong performances by Vebjørn Sørum and Martin Uldal weren’t followed up, while Johan-Olav Smørdal Botn stepped forward instead with a strong third-place finish. 

Sturla Holm Lægreid fell behind early but fought back to claim fourth, ahead of a robust Sverre Dalen Aspenes and the best non-Norwegian finisher, French star Emilien Jacquelin. 

Johannes Thingnes Bø pushed hard on the first lap but immediately incurred two penalty laps in the first prone shooting, followed by two more. This took him entirely out of the fight for victory. It was not a day for the Bø family, as older brother Tarjei didn’t start at all.

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Top 5 – Men

1. Endre Strømsheim (NOR), (0-0-0-1), 37:21.0
2. Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen (NOR), (0-0-0-1), +25.5
3. Johan-Olav Smørdal Botn (NOR), (0-0-1-2), +31.2
4. Sturla Holm Lægreid (NOR), (0-1-1-0), +55.6
5. Sverre Dalen Aspenes (NOR), (1-0-1-2), +59.7

Results can be found HERE 

Also Read – Sjusjøen sprint: Christiansen and Tandrevold lead the way

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