Hauswald continues strong end to World Cup season

GERMANY'S Simone Hauswald closed the gap on World Cup leader Magdalena Neuner with a commanding victory in the biathlon World Cup 12.5km mass start event in Oslo.

PERFECT TIMING: Simone Hauswald moved second in the overall World Cup standings with another win in Oslo (Getty Images)

Double Olympic champion Neuner finished third - over 22 seconds behind her team-mate - while Vita Semerenko, of the Ukraine, was second.

Sweden's Helena Jonsson, third in the overall World Cup standings, saw her end of season woes continue.

She again struggled on the range with five misses and finished well off the pace in a distant 29th.

Hauswald's victory was her second win in 24 hours - a strong end to the season which might make the 30-year old wonder why she is retiring in one weeks time.

However, Neuner's healthy advantage in the standings should see her add to the pursuit World Cup title with the overall crown in Siberia next weekend, when the season concludes with a 7.5km sprint and another 12.5km mass start race.

 

Russia’s Ivan Tcherezov claimed his third win of the season with a flawless performance in the men’s 15km mass start.

However, in the battle for the overall World Cup title, Austria’s Christoph Summann claimed second just ahead of Norwegian standings leader Emil Negle Svendsen, whose lead is now down to single points with two races remaining.

Ole Einar Bjorendalen finished out the top ten while the in-form Simon Fourcade was also off the pace.