March 17, 2013 (Khanty-Mansiysk, RUS) – The USA’s Tim Burke narrowly missed his third podium of the 2012/13 season as he battled with Norwegian star, Emil Hegle Svendsen, on Sunday in the men’s 15km Mass Start race settling for 4th at only 0.3 seconds behind Svendsen.

Burke, was almost perfect on the range missing only one target as did the other top 6 finishers at 17.6 seconds behind today’s winner Martin Fourcade of France. Dominik Landertinger from Austria claimed second at 13.6s behind Fourcade.

Tim Burke (USA) © Nordic Focus

This result in the Khanty-Mansiysk Mass Start is the fourth time Burke has placed just off the podium.  The Paul Smiths, NY biathlete has had numerous top five finishes during his career as well, but has yet to nail the elusive top step of the podium at a World Cup event.

“Today was a great way to cap off a memorable season,” said Burke in a team release. “Of course I wanted that podium so bad today, but I did everything that I could, so I am happy with the effort. I was very tired before the start of the race, but I actually felt pretty good once we got started. Unfortunately, the last loop turned into a lot of tactics because it was so windy and no one wanted to lead. I don’t normally like sprint finishes but I had no choice today.”

Burke is pleased with his season as he commented, “I achieved all of my season goals with getting back to the podium, winning a World Championship medal and finishing in the top 10 of the overall. Now I am already looking forward to next year’s Olympic season.”

Martin Fourcade (FRA) wins Mass Start final race and all four individual crystal Globes. © Nordic Focus

Conditions were challenging with a temperature of -6.3 °C and snow falling making the powder ski conditions very challenging.  Fourcade hammered to his 24th career World Cup victory in a time of 41:51.4 with one penalty with enough time to snag the French flag in celebration as he crossed the line.

With his victory in the Mass Start, Fourcade clinched all four individual crystal Globes.  He told biathlonworld.com that this was his best race of the season. “We all knew it was the last race of the season and wanted to do well…I am very happy to join this great champion Raphael Poiree, my idol as a youth as the only person to win all of the globes.”

Burke’s teammate, Lowell Bailey, also had a solid finale to the 2012/13 World Cup season by finishing 14th today at 1:02.8 back with three penalties. “It was a tough race today and I tried to stay in it until the end,” said Bailey. “The conditions were similar to yesterday with deep drifting snow, slow conditions, and snowfall throughout the race. My skiing pace was fine but the two penalties in the last two stages put me off of the lead pack. Still, I’m happy to finish out the year with a strong World Cup in Siberia, and looking forward to a little rest and recovery in Lake Placid when I get home.”

No Canadian men were on the start line today as they returned home for the 2013 North American and Canadian Biathlon Championships in Whister, BC.

Gabriela Soukalova (CZE) wins women's 12.5km Mass Start © Nordic Focus

Women’s 12.5km Mass Start
In the women’s 12.5km Mass Start, the Czech Republic’s Gabriela Soukalova went three-for-three in Khanty-Mansiysk on Sunday by shooting clean and finishing in a time of 38:22.4 to score the hat-trick victory.

With her second silver medal of the season, France’s Marie Dorin Habert was 11.2 seconds back with 1 penalty while Kaisa Makarainen of Finland finished in 3rd at 22.9 seconds back with two penalties. No North American women were on the start line of the Women’s Mass Start.

In the chase for the crystal Globes it was Norway’s Tora Berger who dominated all season long and, like Fourcade on the men’s side, captured the Sprint, Pursuit, Individual, and Mass Start globes.

Men’s Mass Start results HERE.
Women’s Mass Start results HERE.