Vittozzi is always there: in Dresden the final shoot costs her victory, but Lisa finishes 3rd like Hofer in the race won by Strelow

The 2026 edition of the M4Energy City Biathlon sees Lisa Vittozzi merely flirt with the idea of another victory in the Dresden arena, after the one she secured on her last appearance two years ago, but despite 5 shooting errors, the Olympic champion finishes on the podium in her summer debut (she has also won this race on two other occasions, although those victories came when it was held in Wiesbaden).

At the Heinz-Steyer Stadium, Tereza Vobornikova takes victory in the women’s Mass Start: the Czech athlete, born in 2000 and a medallist at the last Olympics in the mass start itself (in the blizzard at Antholz, a completely different scenario from what was experienced in Germany today), shoots cleanly, unlike Anna Gandler, who misses four targets and finishes 2nd, 12 seconds behind, and Vittozzi, who loses her chances of a new triumph with a hat-trick of errors in the final series, but nevertheless salvages third place, 17” behind the winner, ahead of Hettich-Walz, Magnusson and Braisaz, who finishes sixth.

The closing men’s race further fired up the enthusiasm of the large German crowd, as it is home favourite Justus Strelow who celebrates alone at the finish. As fast as ever on the range, the leading light of the home team beats the trio made up of Eric Perrot, who finishes second, an excellent Lukas Hofer, who thus climbs onto the same step of the podium as his national-team teammate, and a disappointed Philipp Horn in 4th. Germany also place Nawrath 5th ahead of Ponsiluoma, while the much-anticipated Laegreid makes several early shooting errors and finishes a long way back.

Vittozzi and Hofer will be back at work immediately, as the Italian champions, together with their teammates, will return to camp in Val Martello in the coming hours.