Dominik Windisch secures stunning Italian double in dramatic Mass Start

Updated 17/03/2019 at 19:39 GMT

Dominik Windisch won a dramatic Mass Start on Sunday to secure a double for Italy in the event after Dorothea Wierer won the women’s race.

Italy's Dominik Windisch celebrates after winning the men's 15 km mass start event at the IBU World Biathlon Championships in Oestersund, Sweden, on March 17, 2019

Image credit: Getty Images

In the final event of the Biathlon World Championships in Ostersund, World Cup leader Johannes Thingnes Boe opened up strongly.

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The Norwegian shot well before totally falling apart in the final two shooting runs, particularly the last one where incredibly he missed every single shot.

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Boe wasn’t the only skier to struggle with the intense conditions and the penalty loop circuit got plenty of work as the wind and snow played havoc with the shooting.

Third placed Julian Eberhard of Austria, first placed Dominik Windisch of Italy and second placed Antonin Guigonnat of France following the Men's Mass Start at the IBU Biathlon World Championships on March 17, 2019 in Ostersund, Sweden

Image credit: Getty Images

Windisch was the skier to take advantage as he came into the gate 11th but shot flawlessly in the final stretch and rode home to an incredible victory.

It follows a victory earlier for Wierer in the women’s event that sees Italy end the championships in style and places them third in the medal table.

Italy coach Klaus Hoellrigl said: “A great day for Biathlon in Italy and an incredible performance from Dominik.

“The last shooting, the standing shooting was incredible.”

Italy's Dominik Windisch (1st), France's Antonin Guigonnat (2nd) and Austria's Julian Eberhard (3rd) react after crossing the finish line at the end of the men's 15 km mass start event at the IBU World Biathlon Championships in Oestersund, Sweden, on Mar

Image credit: Getty Images

When asked whether he felt Windisch had any chance going into the final shoot Hoellrigl replied “No!

But everything is possible in biathlon, and that’s good.

A tight sprint finish between Antonin Guigonnat narrowly edge out Julian Eberhard for silver.

Boe had to settle for 13th in the end, with brother Tarjei four places higher in ninth.

11-time world champion Martin Fourcade off a thoroughly disappointed couple of weeks by finishing in 24th, which will surely lead to further speculation about his future in the sport.

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Dominik Windisch secures stunning Italian double in dramatic Mass Start

Dominik Windisch won a dramatic Mass Start on Sunday to secure a double for Italy in the event after Dorothea Wierer won the women’s race.

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