Loginov wins biathlon sprint in Oberhof, Jacquelin extends lead

Oberhof, Germany (dpa) – Russia’s Alexander Loginov won the men’s sprint in Oberhof as the biathlon World Cup resumed Friday and France’s Emil Jacquelin took second to extend his lead in the overall standings.

Loginov, the 2020 world champion in the discipline, needed 27 minutes 0.8 seconds in the German resort for the 10 kilometre race which was delayed from Thursday due to warm weather and rain.

The Russian missed only once from his two visits to the range while Jacquelin’s two penalty loops led to him finishing 6.5 seconds behind.

Nonetheless he tops the overall World Cup on 425 points after 10 events of the Olympic season with compatriot Quentin Fillon Maillet
next on 401 after finishing ninth.

Three-time defending champion Johannes Thinges Boe is seventh overall on 323 points after disatrous shooting form brought five penalty loops and a lowly 28th place.

Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid took third on the day with one miss and a 15.1-second deficit.

Swiss athlete Benjamin Weger and Russian Eduard Latypov each missed the competition with positive coronavirus tests while the governing IBU said Friday a Russian official had also tested positive as part of around 250 PCR tests carried out.

“Contact tracing by the local health authorities is ongoing and a decision on quarantine is pending,” the IBU said.

“The Swiss and the Russian team are under an extended testing protocol over the next days.”

Oberhof also hosts a women’s sprint later Friday before mixed relays on Saturday and pursuits for men and women on Sunday conclude the first biathlon meet after the winter break.