1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Russia's war in UkraineIsrael-Hamas warIndia elections

Erik Lesser wins Biathlon World Cup

January 17, 2016

Erik Lesser won the Biathlon World Cup at Ruhpolding while Franziska Hildebrand and Laura Dahlmeier were only bested by World Cup leader Gabriela Soukalova. Good luge results followed.

https://p.dw.com/p/1HeoM
Ruhpolding Biathlon World Cup 2016 Erik Lesser
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Vilf

Erik Lesser raced home in front of 21,000 fans to win the men's 15-kilometer mass start at the biathlon World Cup in Ruhpolding, Germany, on Saturday.

Lesser hit all his targets and capitalized on shooting errors by World Cup holder and overall leader Martin Fourcade of France and Russia's Evgeniy Garanichev. He finished 9.8 seconds ahead of Fourcade and 13.1 seconds ahead Garanichev in a time of 40 minutes 23.3 seconds.

In the women's 12.5-kilometer mass start, current leader Gabriela Soukalova of the Czech Republic took her 10th World Cup win ahead of the German duo of Franziska Hildebrand and Laura Dahlmeier in a time of 41 minutes 13.2 seconds after hitting all her targets. She finished 13.9 seconds up on Hildebrand and 24.4 seconds ahead of Dahlmeier. Both Hildebrand and Dahlmeier missed on their lost shots.

Oberhof luge

Felix Loch went to the top of the standings of the World Cup after eight stages in the luge event at Oberhof. The double Olympic individual champion took his 26th career victory, coming in just ahead of compatriots Andi Langenhan and Ralf Palik. Loch said he had an "optimal day" after recording his sixth straight win on his home course.

Wintersport Felix Loch gewinnt in Calgary
Felix LochImage: picture alliance/AP Images/J. McIntosh

In the women's race, Tatjana Huefner recorded her first win in two years as she completed two runs in 1:23.006 to beat World Cup leader Natalie Geisenberger by .042 seconds for her 34th career win. Dajana Eitberger was third, 133 seconds behind. Geisenberger holds the overall lead with 580 points.

World Cup men's downhill

In a race brought down the mountain from the full 4.4-kilometer distance because of fog and snow, the men's World Cup downhill race on the historic Lauberhorn hill in Wengen, Switzerland, on Saturday was won by Aksel Lund Svindal.

It was the Norwegian's tenth attempt to win the race and he came in ahead of two Austrians - Hannes Reichelt who raced immediately after him and early leader Klaus Kroell - down the shortened 2.7-kilometer course. No one racing after Svindal and Reichelt was able to come close as the fog came down and snow slowed the course.

Schweiz FIS Alpiner Ski World Cup 2016 Aksel Lund Svindal
Aksel Lund Svindal on the LauberhornImage: picture-alliance/dpa/J-C. Bott

"I have had some bad luck in Wengen before," said Svindal. "It was good to have some good luck."

"Today was really a tough race. I was really on the limit," said Reichelt.

jm/sms (dpa, SID)