The Annecy Biathlon World Cup saw commendable performances from Finnish athletes, particularly Suvi Minkkinen and Tero Seppälä, as they showcased their prowess before the holiday break.
Suvi Minkkinen continued her impressive form, securing fifth place in the women's mass start event held on December 19, 2023. This position marks her second-best finish of the World Cup season, following her remarkable third-place finish just weeks earlier at Kontiolahti. Minkkinen's performance was highlighted by her initial clean shooting, establishing her as a formidable competitor right from the start. Despite incurring penalties, she finished just 57.2 seconds behind the race winner, Selina Grotian from Germany.
"Puhuin, että top-20:een on tällä kaudella tavoite. Ja nyt ollaan tämän ensimmäisen cup-jakson jälkeen kuudentena," Minkkinen reflected on her season up to this point. Her consistent placement among the top competitors has exceeded expectations and solidified her standing, placing her sixth overall after eight competitions.
Meanwhile, the men's mass start event featured Tero Seppälä, who achieved his season's best result with a 17th place finish. Although he faced challenges, including three missed shots during the competition, his performance has garnered praise. Kaisa Mäkäräinen noted, "Terolta ehyt suoritus pitkän joulukuun päätteeksi," signifying the solid execution he maintained throughout the races.
The conditions during the event were less than ideal, as the weather transitioned from rain to wet snow, complicately the athletes' performances. Kaisa Mäkäräinen observed the impacts of these conditions on competitors, stating, "Aikamoinen moka ranskalaiselta," referring to Jeanne Richard, who faltered during the race.
Despite these obstacles, Minkkinen managed to hold her own and outpace competitors including Hannah Auchentaller, but she could not keep up with Slovakian Paulina Batoskova Fialkovan’s pace. Mäkäräinen celebrated Minkkinen's achievements as unexpected but encouraging, emphasizing the importance of such performances for her career prospects.
With the World Cup series continuing, the athletes will now take some respite over the Christmas period before returning for the next set of competitions on January 9, 2024, at Oberhof, Germany. Minkkinen expressed the necessity of recovery, stating, "Osa kovimmista kilpakumppaneista esimerkiksi jätti viestikisoja väliin," acknowledging the strategic decisions fellow competitors were making.
Overall, the events at Annecy not only showcased the remarkable talent within Finnish biathlon but also set the stage for what promises to be an exciting continuation of the World Cup series as the athletes return re-energized and ready to compete.
