The BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup stage, held at Tehvandi Sports Center on 10-13 March,
had its first start today. The winner of the very close men’s sprint race was the multiple
Olympic champion Quentin Fillon Maillet who finished with clean shoots.
Sturla Holm Lægreid (0+0) from Norway took second place and the third place went to Benedikt Doll (0+0) from Germany. Vytautas Strolia (0+0) from Lithuania, who came in sixth place, also scored an excellent result.
According to Lægreid, today's second place felt like a victory for him. "Otepää has always been a good place for me, four years ago I also got my first medals here," he said. He added that it was at the 2018 World Junior Championships in Otepää when his fan page was created on social media. "My biggest fan is from Estonia and it would be my honour to give him my start number with an autograph today," Lægreid added smiling.
Erik Lesser (0+1), who finished seventh, was also very pleased with the supporting crowd. "After three years when the spectators were largely banned from competitions, it is very cool to see people cheering along by the track," Lesser said, adding that to his delight, several spectators had also waved the German flag. "I hope there will be even more spectators on Saturday and Sunday," Lesser added. On Friday, 11 March, the women's 7.5 km sprint is scheduled in Otepää.
The BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup stage is held in Otepää on 10–13 March 2022. The four-day competition includes sprint, mass start, mixed relay, and single mixed relay. At the competition venue, spectators will find a local Cultural Street, a sales and catering area and a special kids' area.