Rather than the overall World Cup leader Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, Lisa Vittozzi or local hero Dorothea Wierer, the winner of the women's singles in Antholz is Lena Häcki-Gross. The 28-year-old from Switzerland surprised the entire field with an outstanding performance, not missing a single target and completing the 12.5 kilometre race in a winning time of 36 minutes 49 seconds. This is Häcki-Gross' first ever World Cup victory. Although the Swiss athlete is having a superb season this year, few people expected her to turn in such an outstanding performance in today's individual competition. It is also the first Swiss triumph in Antholz.

France's Julia Simon, who finished sixth overall in the World Cup, took 2nd place, 20.2 seconds behind and with two misses. Her teammate Lou Jeanmonnot (+31.4 seconds) made it onto the podium. Meanwhile, Vanessa Voigt narrowly missed out on the podium: The German had no misses at the shooting range, but had to settle for fourth place, 37.2 seconds behind.


Wierer just outside the top 10
Local hero Dorothea Wierer also delivered a good result. The 33-year-old from Rasen, who celebrated her comeback in Antholz today after a month's break from racing, finished 14th at her home World Cup with just one miss and 2:07.5 minutes behind the winner Häcki-Gross. Wierer impressed at the shooting range with a solid performance, but was a little too slow on the cross-country course. Right behind the South Tyrolean was her teammate Lisa Vittozzi (3 misses) in 16th place.

Local hero Rebecca Passler finished 26th, while Michela Carrara finished 30th with the fifth-best time (with five misses) and Samuela Comola and World Cup newcomer Sara Scattolo had to settle for 68th and 87th place respectively.

On Saturday, the focus will be on the relay race events. The start time for the single-mixed race has been set for 12:55 pm and the mixed relay race for 2:45 pm.


Biathlon World Cup Antholz
12.5 km individual race women

1. Lena Haecki-Gross (SVI) 36 minutes 49 seconds (0 misses)
2. Julia Simon (FRA) +20.2 (2)
3. Lou Jeanmonnot (FRA) +31.4 (1)
4. Vanessa Voigt (GER) +37.2 (0)
5. June Arnekleiv (NOR) + 41.1 (1)
6. Karoline Offigstad Knotten (NOR) + 52.2 (1)
7. Janina Hettich-Walz (GER) + 1:13.9 (2)
8. Franziska Preuss (GER) + 1:23.1 (2)
9. Ida Lien (NOR) + 1:25.3 (2)
10. Elvira Oeberg (SWE) + 1:55.8 (2)
11. Jessica Jislova (CZE) +1:57.9 (0)
12. Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold (NOR) +1:58.1 (3)
13. Anastasiya Merkushyna (UKR) 2:00.0 (1)
14. Dorothea Wierer (ITA) 2:07.5 (1)
15. Gilonne Guigonnat (FRA) + 2:14.9 (2)
16. Lisa Vittozzi (ITA) 2:15.0 (3)

26. Rebecca Passler (ITA) + 3:27.4 (3)
30. Michela Carrara (ITA) +3:34.7 (5)
68. Samuela Comola (ITA) + 6:38.0 (5)