Giacomel claims emotional biathlon sprint win for late friend Bakken

4 days ago 1

Italy's Tommaso Giacomel claimed a highly emotional biathlon World Cup sprint victory on Thursday in Oberhof which he dedicated to his late close friend Sivert Guttorm Bakken of Norway.

Giacomel raised his arm towards the sky after crossing the finish line at the German venue and again at the victory ceremony.

He had also topped the podium in the last race before Christmas, a mass start in France where Bakken came 20th in what was to be his final event.

"It is really strange. It is one of my best days in biathlon and one of the worst because Sivert is not here. It makes me so sad," Giacomel told German broadcasters ARd.

Asked whether the victory was for Bakken, he said "Yes."

Giacomel prevailed in foggy conditions 13.2 seconds ahead of Philipp Nawrath, who got a first season podium for the German men's team. Norway's Johannes Dale-Skjevdal was third, 25.2 seconds off the pace, with all three podium finishers missing one target each.

"Even if Sivert is not here I could concentrate on my training which helped," Giacomel said.

A tribute to Bakken was held at the German venue before the first race since his death on December 23. The entire Norwegian team and others including Giacomel stood in front of the start gate as a short video clip of Bakken was shown on the big screen.

Teams and spectators then held a minute of applause in memory of Bakken, who was honoured with the number 1 bib on the day.

Bakken was found dead in his hotel room the day before Christmas Eve at a training camp in Italy by team-mate and World Cup leader Johan-Olaf Botn. He was wearing a altitude training face mask.

The funeral is scheduled for Tuesday in Lillehammer. The cause of his death remains unknown, with autopsy results possibly not expected until March.

Botn and defending World Cup champion Sturla Holm Lægreid, also of Norway, are not present in Oberhof due to illness.

The women's sprint over 7.5km later in the day was won by Sweden's Elvira Öberg 21.1 seconds ahead of Suvi Minkkinen of Finland and 23.6 from French skier Julia Simon for a first season victory. All three shot clean.

The race was moved forward from Friday due to an adverse weather forecast for that day.

"It was special," Öberg said of the schedule change. "I did very hard intervals two days ago but I am happy we don't have race tomorrow."

The Oberhof events continue on Saturday with a men's pursuit and women's relay.