Just four spare rounds across the entire relay. Yet still no podium. It’s rare for Norway not to be fighting at the top when they are the best on the shooting range. But in Wednesday’s IBU Cup relay in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, that is precisely what happened.

The mixed relay on last season’s World Championship courses was, for a long time, a triangular drama among Norway, Germany, and Italy. But in the end, the winner was completely different.

Top favorite France picked up a penalty loop already on the first leg through Emilien Claude. However, the team gradually worked its way closer to the three teams at the front, and on the final leg, the fast Celia Henaff made quick work of it.

After two podium finishes in Ridnaun last week, the 21-year-old gave the others no chance. She knocked out Germany’s Hanna Kebinger on the final lap and finished 10.9 seconds ahead of Italy. Germany couldn’t hold on all the way and dropped to third.

Read More: France claims Mixed Relay win in Lenzerheide

Missed on the final leg

Norway was in contention for three quarters of the relay. Both Vetle Rype Paulsen and Kasper Kalkenberg let the others do the pacesetting on the track, but were rock solid on the range. Vetle gave Norway a gap on the first leg.

Kasper was quickly joined by several athletes, but kept Norway in the fight at the front. At halfway, it was still a triangular battle, with Germany, Italy, and Norway taking turns in the lead.

Sister Emilie Ågheim Kalkenberg also shot like a machine and had the strength all the way, even though Germany pulled slightly away toward the end. After three legs, Norway had used just one spare round and had a clear chance of victory.

Three spare rounds for Skar

But Siri Galtung Skar (pictured at the top) needed a spare round in the prone shooting and lost contact with Germany. At the same time, Celia Henaff surged for France and passed Norway. When Oslo-based Skar had to reload twice in the standing shooting, Norway was out of the podium fight.

Italy finished strongly and passed Germany, while Norway went the opposite way. At the finish, the Norwegian team was 48.7 seconds behind the winner and 21.7 seconds short of the podium.

Beaten by Denmark, beat Mongolia

In the subsequent single mixed relay, things went wrong for Norway immediately. With a penalty loop on the first prone shooting, Sverre Dalen Aspenes fell behind. Karoline Erdal also struggled on the range, and for a while, Norway was behind Mongolia. They eventually beat the Mongolians, who were lapped, but Denmark proved too strong.

Norway finished in a dismal 11th place, in fact, one of the highest positions they held during the relay. In total, they incurred three penalty loops and used 15 spare rounds. The Danes were much stronger, with half-Norwegian Anne De Besche on the team. They took an impressive sixth place and were beaten in the sprint by Sweden.

France also won this race, this time convincingly ahead of Finland and Austria.

Also Read: France wins the Single Mixed Relay in Lenzerheide

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