Vittozzi takes over biathlon World Cup lead with another Canmore win

DPA
·1 min read
Italian biathlete Lisa Vittozzi holds the crystal globe following the women's World Cup biathlon 10 km pursuit event in Canmore. Jeff Mcintosh/Canadian Press via ZUMA Press/dpa
Italian biathlete Lisa Vittozzi holds the crystal globe following the women's World Cup biathlon 10 km pursuit event in Canmore. Jeff Mcintosh/Canadian Press via ZUMA Press/dpa

Italian biathlete Lisa Vittozzi seized the World Cup leader's yellow jersey from Norway's Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold after winning the 10-kilometre pursuit in the Canadian resort of Canmore on Saturday.

Vittozzi won Thursday's sprint and held on to win the pursuit, benefitting from her Norwegian rival only finishing 19th and slipping 61 points behind with just Sunday's mass start left this season.

The Italian also snatched the small crystal globe for the discipline classification from Julia Simon. The Frenchwoman had been leading in the pursuit World Cup and would have sealed the honour by finishing second.

However, last season's overall World Cup winner managed just fourth, meaning Vittozzi ended up 14 points ahead in the standings.

The 29-year-old Vittozzi missed only once on her last visit to the range to win in 28 minutes 15.9 seconds, 12.2 seconds ahead of France's Lou Jeanmonnot.

A men's pursuit follows on Saturday in the Canadian Rockies.

Italian biathlete Lisa Vittozzi (C), second placed France's Lou Jeanmonnot (L) and third place France's Justine Braisaz-Bouchet celebrate on the podium following the women's World Cup biathlon 10 km pursuit event in Canmore. Jeff Mcintosh/Canadian Press via ZUMA Press/dpa
Italian biathlete Lisa Vittozzi (C), second placed France's Lou Jeanmonnot (L) and third place France's Justine Braisaz-Bouchet celebrate on the podium following the women's World Cup biathlon 10 km pursuit event in Canmore. Jeff Mcintosh/Canadian Press via ZUMA Press/dpa
Italian biathlete Lisa Vittozzi celebrates her victory in the women's World Cup biathlon 10 km pursuit event in Canmore. Jeff Mcintosh/Canadian Press via ZUMA Press/dpa
Italian biathlete Lisa Vittozzi celebrates her victory in the women's World Cup biathlon 10 km pursuit event in Canmore. Jeff Mcintosh/Canadian Press via ZUMA Press/dpa
Norwegian biathlete Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold skis during the women's World Cup biathlon 10 km pursuit event in Canmore. Jeff Mcintosh/Canadian Press via ZUMA Press/dpa
Norwegian biathlete Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold skis during the women's World Cup biathlon 10 km pursuit event in Canmore. Jeff Mcintosh/Canadian Press via ZUMA Press/dpa