Photogallery from Women’s and Men’s Mass Start races at 2024 IBU World Championships Biathlon Nove Mesto Na Morave. On the last day of a two-week Championships, top 30 Women and Men competed in front of the spectacular crowd surpassing 20 000 people.
Women’s 12.5 km Mass Start: 1. Justine Braissaz-Bouchet, 2. Lisa Vittozzi, 3. Lou Jeanmonnot
Men’s 15 km Mass Start: 1. Johannes Thingnes Boe, 2. Andrejs Rastorgujevs, 3. Quentin Fillon Maillet
It was supposed to be one of the highlights of the Biathlon Season. The World Cup Event in Nove Mesto Na Morave always draws huge attendance and more than 120 000 spectators were expected this year as well. Because of the continued spreading of Coronavirus and the threat of COVID-19 disease, it was decided that the spectators would not be allowed inside the stadium and were forbidden to gather in large numbers outside of the arena as well as in Nove Mesto itself. Biathletes had to perform in front of empty stands. In a time of national tragedy, our former president made now infamous misquote: “It will be a different kind of joy. It will be grief.” I’m sure the sterile atmosphere left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. Photos from Women’s and Men’s Mass start that took place on March 8th, 2020.
Women’s 12.5km Mass Start: 1. Tiril Eckhoff (NOR), 2. Hanna Oeberg (SWE), 3. Franziska Preuss (GER)
Men’s 15km Mass Start: 1. Johannes Thingnes Boe (NOR), 2. Emilien Jacquelin (FRA), 3. Arnd Peiffer (GER)
Just before the Christmas I had the opportunity to attend and photograph three races (women’s sprint on Friday and both men’s and women’s pursuit on Saturday) of the third edition of 2016/2017 IBU Biathlon World Cup in Nove Mesto Na Morave. Vysocina Arena became the true heart of biathlon world with the total attendance of more than 130 000 spectators. Martin Fourcade dominated all three races among men. Women’s races saw three different winners – Tatiana Akimova (sprint), Anais Chevalier (pursuit) and Gabriela Koukalova (mass start).
In February 2015, I had an incredible opportunity to attend the biathlon event of the season – the IBU World Cup in Nove Mesto na Morave. Top biathletes, beautiful weather and massive attendance. In other words – a perfect saturday. My photogallery is from sprint competitions. Laura Dahlmeier won the 7,5 km women’s sprint and Jakov Fak of Slovenia was the fastest man on 10 km track.
