On Sunday, March 13, mixed relays took place at the BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup in Otepää. Just like on Saturday, nearly 6,000 spectators had arrived at Tehvandi Sports Center.
The last day of the competition in Otepää brought sunshine, enthusiastic crowds and lots of good emotions. The mixed relay win went to the Norwegian team consisting of Sivert Guttorm Bakken, Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen, Tiril Eckhoff, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, who used a total of seven spares. The Swedish relay team finished second and the French team finished third. Simon Desthieux, who started first from the French team, apparently expressed at the finish the feelings of each competitor today. "Today was a great day – the sun and a great atmosphere. The Estonian people are fantastic," Desthieux said.
An hour after the mixed relay finish, single mixed relay teams started, and again, the Norwegian team took the win. Marte Olsbu Røiseland and Sturla Holm Lægreid won the gold medal using only two spares. Sweden came in second place and Germany in third place. Røiseland had not done single mixed relay for some time. "It was an exciting relay. It was such a long time since I did a single mixed so it was fun to race,” Røiseland commented.
The single mixed relay was also the last race of the first-ever the BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup stage in Otepää. According to Frenchman Emilien Jacquelin, Otepää was the perfect place to compete. "We always speak about the biathlon family. It is definitely there in Otepää," he said. According to Jaquelin, organizing the stage at the new location is beneficial for everyone – athletes, spectators and organizers.
The next Otepää BMW IBU World Cup stage is planned for 2026. In 2024, the world championships for juniors and youth will be held at the Tehvandi Sports Centre.