POKLJUKA, Slovenia, 10 January 2004 — German veteran Uschi Disl kept her cool on the shooting range yesterday to get her first biathlon World Cup season victory, in a pursuit race.
Disl, 33, had to ski just one penalty loop and crossed the finish line after 30 minutes 23.4 seconds for the 10-kilometers distance.
It was her first season win after three previous podium finishes and the 22nd victory in her career.
“I just wanted a good result in the shooting range, so that I didn’t have to ski that hard on the last lap,” said Disl.
World Cup leader Sandrine Bailly of France won a sprint for second place against Russian Olga Pyleva. Both trailed by 50.7 seconds. Bailly had three penalty loops, Pyleva one.
Early leader Liv-Grete Poiree lost all her chances when she was forced into five penalty loops in the final two shooting portions.
She eventually finished fourth, 1:37.7 minutes adrift.
The World Cup continues at the same venue today with a men’s pursuit.
