Biathlon: Suvi Minkkinen finished fifth, Sonja Leinamo eighth

Finland the number one name in biathlon Suvi Minkkinen was again in top form when the world cup tour of the sport moved to Oberhof, Germany.

Minkkinen finished fifth in Oberhof’s sprint race. The result equals Minkkinen’s second best World Cup competition ranking of the season and career. The best quote is the third place in the Kontiolahti speed race.

Minkkinen is handsomely fifth in the World Cup and third in the Sprint Cup.

“The break has brought a little uncertainty around what I’m doing, but I’m really happy when I’m back in bloom. The road was quite difficult, which made it a little difficult to recharge for the race. You had to be very careful with the wind, especially when lying down, and you had to watch every shot,” Minkkinen stated in the press release.

Oberhof’s race was a great success for Finns, because Sonja Leinamo reached the best ranking of his career and finished eighth. Also Venla Lehtonen and Inka Hämäläinen reached the top 30.

“Confused and happy feeling. On Wednesday, I was still thinking that if only I could claim a place in the chase, and I felt bad. That’s why I’m so shocked, because I wouldn’t have believed in such a performance,” Leinamo said in the press release.

The race full of surprises was won by a Frenchman Paula Botet. Norway took second place Maren Kirkeeide and third, Bulgaria Milena Todorova.