January 10, 2010 (Oberhof, Germany) – The USA’s Tim Burke retained the yellow leader’s bib with excellent shooting 18/20, to finish second at 1:02.9 behind Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (NOR) who gave a sensational performance shooting 19/20 in fog and swirling winds for the victory at Sunday’s IBU World Cup men’s 15km mass start in Oberhof. It was Bjoerndalen’s 92nd World Cup win, a feat that the biathlon-crazy Oberhof fans cheered on in a frenzy.

Tim Burke (USA) showed just as much concentration on the shooting range keeping the World Cup leaders jersey for another week. His girlfriend, Andrea Henkel (GER), won the women’s race earlier in the today. “I think Andrea is buying dinner tonight, since she beat me and won more prize money,” quipped Burke at the post-race press conference. Tomasz Sikora (POL) made it to the podium to claim 3rd, for the first time in many weeks, despite missing three shots, two in the final stage.

Canada’s Jean Phillippe Le Guellec shot 15/20 to place a respectable 19th, with a time of 41:44.7. The IBU World Cup continues next week in Rhupolding, GER.

Bjorndalen and Burke Press Conference

Men’s full results here.
Men’s Overall World Cup rankings here.

Results (brief)
1. Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (NOR) 0+1+0+0 / T1, 38:57.3
2. Tim Burke (USA) 0+1+1+0 / T2, 40:00.2
3. Tomasz Sikora (POL) 0+0+1+2 / T3, 40:37.9
4. Evgeny Ustyugov (RUS) 0+1+2+2 / T5, 40:46.5
5. Arnd Peiffer (GER) 0+1+2+2 / T5, 40:53.2

19. Jean Philippe LeGuellec (CAN) 1+1+0+2 / T4, 41:44.7

Overall after nine of 25 events (brief)

1. Tim Burke (USA) 329 points
2. Ustyugov Evgeny (RUS) 326
3. Simon Fourcade (FRA) 301
4. Christoph Sumann (AUT) 273
5. Emil Hegle Svendsen (NOR) 264
6. Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (NOR) 255

27. Jean Philippe LeGuellec (CAN)
50. Jeremy Teela (USA)
73. Jay Hakkinen (USA)
82. Scott Perras (CAN)
85. Lowell Bailey (USA)