March 27, 2009 (Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia) – The World’s best biathletes have gather in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia for the final few days of World Cup competition in the 2009 season. The men began Thursday with the 10km sprint event won by Germany’s 22-yr-old Arnd Peiffer. Shooting clean through the race was the difference for Peiffer as he won over Norway’s Ole Einar Bjoerndalen by 23.1 seconds.

Bjoerndalen missed his one shot on the standing round and looked like he would missed the podium as well. However, he skied his way back up the time splits from 5th to claim second place. In taking second place Bjoerndalen clinched the World Cup overall, his 6th in his great career. In third was Austria’s Christoph Sumann just 27.3 seconds back from the lead. The USA’s Tim Burke finished in 23rd a minute and 26 second back with two misses. Canada’s Leguellec was 31st.

In the women’s race on Friday, Tina Bachmann of Germany became the second World Cup rookie in two days in Russia to stand on top of the winner’s podium after just her third World Cup start. Shooting clean like her teammate Peiffer in the men’s 10km, Bachmann won the women’s 7.5km by just 3.7 seconds over teammate Simone Hauswald. Hauswald as well shot clean and started a full 10 minutes ahead in the interval start race.

“I did not know about Tina. At that moment, I was very satisfied with my standing shooting. I had cleaned prone also and my shape is quite good right now, so it actually was a perfect race. I am happy to be second. It was Tina’s first win in her third World Cup race. It was perfect for her. It is great to be on the podium with Tina. She was my roommate in Trondheim. It took me seven or eight years to win my first World Cup and she did it on her third try. She proved to everyone with this race, that she deserved to start in World Cups,” Hauswald is quoted as saying on biathlonworld.com.

In third was Swedish skier Anna Carin Olofsson-Zidek who returned to competition this season after giving birth to her son Liam in June 2008. Canada’s Zina Kocher was 24th. Helena Jonsson of Sweden clinched her first World Cup overall title despite placing 19th.

Complete men’s results here
Complete women’s results here

Results (brief)

Men

1. Arnd Peiffer (Ger) 25:51.1
2. Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (Nor) + 23.1
3. Christopher Sumann (Aut) + 27.3

23. Tim Burke (USA) + 1:26.1
31. Jean Philippe Leguellec (Can) + 1:35.4
55. Jeremy Teela (USA) + 2:41.6
67. Lowell Bailey (USA) + 3:11.9

Women

1. Tina Bachmann (Ger) 20:49.8
2. Simone Hauswald (Ger) + 3.7
3. Anna Carin Olofsson-Zidek (Swe) + 19.3

24. Zina Kocher (Can) + 1:39.7