Östersund, sweden – The Biathlon World Cup continues today with the women’s pursuit race, one day after Finland’s suvi Minkkinen claimed her first career World Cup victory in the sprint and took the overall lead. The pursuit event will see athletes complete a 10-kilometer course with twice as many shooting stations as the sprint, testing both speed and precision.
Suvi Minkkinen of Finland will lead the field in Sweden’s 10-kilometer race, having secured her first career victory in the sprint and the yellow jersey as the overall World Cup leader. She holds a 17-second advantage over Sweden’s Anna Magnusson, while France’s Oceane Michelon will start four seconds later.
Thirty-two-year-old Marketa Charvatova will start 14th, exactly one minute after Minkkinen. A strong showing in the sprint, marked by only one penalty in 10 shots, has positioned her well for the pursuit race, which features double the shooting targets. She’s currently just seven seconds off the top ten.
Markéta Davidová will start 16 seconds later, wearing bib number 21, after a sprint race where she had two misses on the standing stage. Last season, she climbed from seventh to fifth place in the Hochfilzen pursuit – her last start before a herniated disc sidelined her.
Tereza Voborníková will start 23rd, 1:19 behind the leader. The top-ranked Czech in the World Cup sprint didn’t miss any shots, though she’s still finding her rhythm early in the season.
Voborníková excels in mass start events, finishing lower than her starting position in only one of six races last winter. She delivered her best result of the season at Holmenkollen, surging from 25th to 7th in the final pursuit.
Jessica Jislová and Tereza Vinklárková, both Czech representatives, will not compete in the pursuit after a disappointing sprint performance.
The Biathlon World Cup continues in Sweden with the women’s pursuit race, following a thrilling sprint competition that set the stage for a compelling chase. Suvi Minkkinen of Finland will be the first to embark on the 10-kilometer course, wearing the coveted yellow jersey after a breakthrough sprint victory.
Minkkinen will start with a 17-second lead over local favorite Anna Magnusson, as the Swedish athlete looks to capitalize on home-field advantage. France’s Oceane Michelon is also poised for a strong showing, starting just four seconds behind Magnusson.
Czech Republic’s Marketa Charvatova is looking to build on a solid sprint performance, where she only missed one shot out of ten. She’ll begin her pursuit 14th, one minute behind Minkkinen, and is within striking distance of the top ten, trailing by just seven seconds. The pursuit will test her endurance with double the shooting targets.
Markéta Davidová faces a slight uphill battle, starting 16 seconds later in 21st position. She had two misses in the sprint’s standing stage, but is eager to return to form after a challenging 2024-25 season cut short by a herniated disc.
Tereza Voborníková will start 23rd, 1 minute and 19 seconds off the pace. Despite still finding her stride early in the season, Voborníková boasts a strong record in pursuit races, consistently improving her position from the start. Her impressive climb from 25th to 7th at Holmenkollen last season demonstrates her potential for a strong finish.
Unfortunately, Jessica Jislová and Tereza Vinklárková will not be participating in the pursuit, having failed to qualify after their performances in the sprint.
