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Norway fought from start to finish in the relay. Bumps, falls and a series of arm blows ensured a completely black day in Finland, where Sweden came out on top.
Norway is the reigning world relay champion, but failed to claim first place at Kontiolahti. Instead, it was a disastrous day on the track and in the stands for the victorious women.
Norway finished 13th in the Hochfilzen relay in the 2016/17 season, their weakest result to date. At Kontiolahti, they finished in eighth place.
Karoline Knotten, who has a place on the podium this season, started for Norway in the Finnish forests. He struggled early in the crowded field and crashed to the ground after contact with several competitors, just before the first shot. The fall seemed to affect the 25-year-old, who had to use all the extra shots to fill the flashes.
The knob prevented additional rounds, but the distance to the leader had suddenly become great. On the second shot, the problems continued and it seemed that something was wrong with the weapon. The knob had to be refilled in the magazine before all the shots had been used, and it also struggled to get new cartridges in place.
– I rarely use the word nightmare about sports, said NRK commentator Andreas Stabrun Smith.
– It’s terribly painful to watch, added Ola Lunde.
BANG AND FALL: DAY OF CRISIS: Karoline Knotten went to the hill in the first stage. Norway fought hard and finished far behind at the finish line. Photo: ANTTI AIMO-KOIVISTO / Lehtikuva
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The heavy first stage laid an almost impossible foundation for Norwegian success, and it was a clearly marked Knotten who posed for an interview with NRK during Tiril Eckhoff’s stage.
– This hurts. I can’t do it today, there’s a lot of nonsense along the way. I really go shooting. In reality, everything went wrong, Knotten said.
– I’m sorry for everyone at home and for all the girls who lose all the experience of going to relay, he concluded.
Eckhoff was far from sealing the hatch to lead. Because on his second shot he ended up in three rounds of penalties after a cruel series in the stands.
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– I took a chance, but it didn’t work. We went correctly over the muzzle, then we got up again, Eckhoff told NRK.
Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold filled in both series with the help of some extra punches, but Marte Olsbu Røiseland only fought for her own glory in the final stage.
The Swedish women have delivered at a consistently high level this season and were favorites ahead of Saturday’s relay. The neighboring country did not disappoint and won a resounding victory. He was Sweden’s first relay winner since January 2011.
On Sunday it is the women’s turn to go hunting. The men will try to do relays.
