RUHPOLDING, Germany (AP) -- The Czech Republic won a second successive World Cup women's biathlon relay in tough conditions on Wednesday.
The Czech foursome also captured the 4x6-kilometre event last week in Oberhof, Germany.
Anchored by Veronika Vitkova, the Czechs mastered slushy conditions to beat Belarus and its star, three-time Olympic gold medallist Darya Domracheva, by one minute, 13.3 seconds.
Germany had to race a penalty lap and finished third, 1:39.3 behind the winners.
Eva Puskarcikova, Gabriela Soukalova, Jitka Landova and Vitkova missed nine targets but avoided any penalty rounds.
Belarus missed six shots but also avoided any penalties.
The Canadian team of Megan Heinicke of Prince George, Julia Ransom of Kelowna, Audrey Vaillancourt of Quebec City and Zina Kocher of Red Deer finished 11th. Heinicke, 26, missed just once in four shooting bouts and finished the lead leg in 21:47.8, second only to Puskarcikova, who clocked 21.22.6.
The men's 4X7.5km relay is set for today. Christian Gow of Canmore, Alta., Brendan Green of Hay River, N.W.T, Scott Gow of Canmore and Nathan Smith of Calgary will compete for Canada.
The women's 7.5km sprint is scheduled for Friday, followed by the men's 10km sprint on Saturday ad mass start races on Sunday.
-- with files from The Citizen
