February 06, 2011 (Presque Isle, Maine) – Tora Berger of Norway won the windy women’s 10km pursuit competition in 35:12.1., despite four penalties. Second went to Marie Dorin of France, with three penalties, 30.7 seconds back, with Darya Domracheva of Belarus, 1:11.2 back with five penalties.

The women’s pursuit had to deal with the wind just as the men had two hours earlier. In the first prone, sprint winner Helena Ekholm (SWE) came in as the leader but had a single penalty. Berger shot clean and took the lead with a group that included Dorin of France, Kaisa Mäkäräinen of Finland, and Domracheva all shooting clean in pursuit of Berger and Ekholm.

In the second prone, Berger picked up a penalty and Ekholm two. In the first standing stage, Berger shot fast and had two penalties as the wind battered everyone. Dorin had a single penalty and Mäkäräinen two. Dorin took the lead with a 27.6-second gap going into the next 2K loop followed by Berger and Mäkäräinen.

The wind gusted frequently as the leading women shot their final stranding stage. Dorin had two penalties and was out first, but Berger responded with a single miss. She shot quickly in both standing stages while many other competitors tried to wait out the wind. She explained, “I saw the others missing. So I just took my penalties and left. I think I won because I did not lose so many seconds in the shooting range.”

Mäkäräinen had five penalties and left the lead group at that point. The harsh conditions in the standing stages had spread out the field to the point that no one had a chance to catch any of these three women, with Domracheva 37.3 seconds ahead of fourth ranked Magdalena Neuner at that point.

Berger summed up the conditions of the harsh wind that resulted in 311 penalties for the 52-woman field and the soft new snow from the overnight storm. “It was really hard today. Even on the tracks, just before the shooting range, you also had the wind in your face. . . The shooting was really difficult.”

Dorin’s second place was only the third podium of her career. All of her best results have come in the latter stages of the season. She explained, “I am better in skiing now than in the top of the season. In February and March it is good, so I hope to continue like that.” Although happy with her result, she had one wish. “This is my best in a World Cup, but now I want a first place.”

Domracheva was on the podium today for the fifth time this season, but has yet to win. Even without a win, she was happy today with her podium spot. “I think I am a very lucky girl to be in this place today.”

The US and Canadian women were not as lucky as the Belarusian athlete. Haley Johnson of lake Placid, NY had two clean prone stages and was in the top 20, but missed five shots in the two standing stages and fell through the field before landing in 38th place, 4:44.9 back.

Her teammate Sara Studebaker could not match her 14th place sprint finish from earlier in the week, but was still the top North American woman in 28th place, with six penalties, 3;45.4 back. Laura Spector had five penalties but still managed to move from 52nd to 45th at the finish – she was 5:57.8 back. Canadians Rosanna Crawford and Claire Godbout were 49th and 50th, with seven and five penalties, respectively.

German legend Neuner finished fourth, with seven penalties, 1:44.8 back, followed by her teammate Andrea Henkel, with five penalties, 2:16.1 back. Mäkäräinen was sixth, also with seven penalties, 2:17.5 back.

Full results HERE.