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Germany Slips to Sixth in Ruhpolding Women’s Relay After Preuß Penalty

The final relay before Antholz exposed costly shooting errors just five weeks from the Games.

Overview

  • Norway won the 4x6 km relay with Italy second and Sweden third, as Germany finished 1:01.8 back.
  • Vanessa Voigt, Julia Tannheimer, Janina Hettich-Walz and anchor Franziska Preuß combined for eight spare rounds, with Preuß skiing a penalty loop after the final standing shooting.
  • Preuß told ZDF she was very disappointed and cited pressure and trouble getting spare rounds to land in the last shooting.
  • Ruhpolding served as the last team relay before the Olympics, sharpening focus on Germany’s shooting reliability and race execution.
  • Selina Grotian was not selected as she returns from a COVID infection and still needs the Olympic norm in the remaining races to qualify.