Overview
- A penalty loop by Franziska Preuss in the final standing shooting dropped Germany to sixth in the last women’s relay before the Olympics.
- Norway won in Ruhpolding with Italy second and Sweden third, as Germany finished 1:01.8 behind the winners.
- Preuss said heavy pressure affected her shooting and that she is struggling to convert spare rounds, stressing a need to regain calm and confidence.
- She turns next to the Ruhpolding sprint on Friday and the pursuit on Sunday, with DSV sport director Felix Bitterling expressing confidence in a quick reset and Preuss planning to race in Nove Mesto to stay in rhythm.
- Selection questions persist as 21-year-old Selina Grotian, absent from the relay after a COVID-19 infection, still needs one top-eight or two top-15 finishes in her remaining races to meet the Olympic norm, while France placed fourth despite a full-strength lineup.