Bø and Preuss start Oslo climax in style to boost overall hopes
Norwegian biathlon star Johannes Thingnes Bø reignited his late World Cup title charge with a mistake-free victory in front of adoring fans in Oslo in his final sprint before retirement.
Germany's Franziska Preuss meanwhile moved a step closer to her first overall globe with women's sprint victory on Friday. The 31-year-old edged out big title rival Lou Jeanmonnot of France by just 0.2 seconds after 7.5 kilometres.
Preuss leads Jeanmonnot by 35 points heading into Saturday's pursuit and Sunday's season-ending mass start, when overall glory is likely to be decided. With her third victory of the season, Preuss has already secured the sprint title after shooting flawlessly.
Five-times overall men's champion Bø was forced to withdraw halfway through the Pokljuka World Cup meet last week because of illness, meaning he missed out on vital points in his title battle with compatriot Sturla Holm Lægreid.
Lægreid, who also shot clean, was 25.7 seconds adrift in second on Friday after the 10km sprint at the sport's spiritual home in Holmenkollen. Norwegians finished in the top five spots.
Bø still trails his rival by 89 points. It sets up another thrilling finale in Saturday's pursuit and Sunday's mass start as Bø targets a sixth and final crown to match fellow Norwegian icon Ole Einar Bjørndalen.
It is still odds against for five-times Olympic champion Bø, but he at least sealed the sprint season title on Friday after a fourth victory of the season and 91st career World Cup win.
"I'm eternally grateful to be able to experience this one last time," 31-year-old Bø, who also took three golds at the recent world championships to amass 23 overall, told NRK. His brother Tarjei is also retiring after Sunday but missed Friday's race with a fever.
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