World Cup Biathlon - Anton Babikov takes surprise victory in Antholz-Anterselva behind clean shooting performance
BySportsbeat
Updated 20/01/2022 at 15:49 GMT
The Russian was the only man to complete his shooting portions of the 20km event in Italy, producing a blemish-less performance. This weekend is the last on the World Cup circuit before the world's leading biathletes travel to Beijing ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, with action across the weekend.
Russia's Anton Babikov competes in the IBU Biathlon World Cup Men's 20 km Individual Competition in Antholz-Anterselva, Italian Alps, on January 20, 2022.
Image credit: Getty Images
Anton Babikov secured his second-ever World Cup victory as he came out on top in the individual in Antholz-Anterselva on a day when a lot of the favourites struggled on the range.
The Russian, whose only previous win came in 2016 in Oestersund, was the only athlete to shoot clear and finished 9.7 seconds clear of Tarjei Boe, who had the consolation of taking the individual crystal globe thanks to his second runner-up finish in as many individual races, with two misses on the final shoot proving costly.
That was still enough to leapfrog Sturla Holm Laegreid, last year's discipline crystal globe winner, with the Norwegian finishing 5th.
Johannes Thingnes Boe also looked to be approaching his best form as he finished fourth, showing good ski speed while missing three targets in all. He narrowly missed out on the podium, with Russia's Said Karimulla Khalili taking third.
Overall World Cup leader Quentin Fillon-Maillet endured a tough afternoon, missing five targets in all including three on his second prone shoot as he had to settle for 20th spot.
However with his closest rival in the World Cup standings, Sweden's Sebastian Samuelsson, absent, and Emilien Jacquelin only finishing 10th, Fillon Maillet retains an overall lead of 101 points.
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