The women's 10 km pursuit kicks things off at 1:00 pm. A thrilling battle is expected again, featuring sprint winner Lou Jeanmonnot, World Cup overall leader Franziska Preuss, local hero Dorothea Wierer, Julia Simon, and Thursday’s surprise runner-up, Selina Grotian from Germany. The current discipline leader is 26-year-old Jeanmonnot, who has already won two of the three pursuit races this season in Hochfilzen and Oberhof.
Host Dorothea Wierer from Niederrasen will also give it her all after finishing fourth in the sprint, especially since Wierer is still chasing her first podium finish of the season. The Italian team will once again field six athletes: Martina Trabucchi, Michela Carrara, Samuela Comola, and local heroes Hannah Auchentaller and Rebecca Passler.
French are the ones to beat in the men's relay
The men’s relay event over 4x7.5 km, featuring both prone and standing shooting, begins at 2:55 pm. France is the clear favorite, with Emilien Jacquelin & Co. remaining undefeated this season, having won all three relay events so far in Kontiolahti, Hochfilzen, and Ruhpolding. Thus, the "Grande Nation" holds the best cards in Antholz as well. However, the athletes from Norway, Sweden, and Germany should never be underestimated. A thrilling head-to-head race is certainly on the cards at the foot of the Hochgall mountain. Host nation Italy has yet to hit its stride this season (10th place in Kontiolahti, 7th in Hochfilzen, and 18th in Ruhpolding) but hopes to deliver a surprise performance.