• Spectators and athletes brave heavy snowfall at the IBU Biathlon World Cup in Oberhof, Germany

    Robert Michael / AFP - Getty Images

    Spectators stand in heavy snowfall to watch the men's 4 x 7,5 km relay event of the IBU biathlon World Cup in Oberhof, eastern Germany on Jan. 5, 2012.

    Eurosport reports: Italy came from behind to snatch victory from Russia in the IBU Biathlon World Cup men’s 4x7.5km relay event in Oberhof, Germany to end a long wait for a relay win.

    It was Italy's first victory in a men's relay since 1993.

    Jens Meyer / AP

    Biathlets prepare for the start during heavy snow storm at the men's 4 x 7.5 km relay at the Biathlon World Cup in Oberhof, Germany, on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012.

    For most of the race it looked as though the Russian team of Anton Shipulin, Evgeniy Garanichev, Evgeny Ustyugov and Alexey Volkov would easily collect the win as they led from the first leg.

    But despite taking over with a 43.6 second lead from Italy in the final leg, Volkov picked up three penalties with the rifle as the Russian team slipped to second.

    Robert Michael / AFP - Getty Images

    An unidentified athlete competes during heavy snowfall in the men's 4 x 7,5 km relay event of the IBU biathlon World Cup in Oberhof.

    Tobias Schwarz / Reuters

    Italy's Lukas Hofer reacts winning in the 4x7.5 km men's relay competition at the Biathlon World Cup in the eastern German ski resort of Oberhof Jan. 5, 2012. Italy won the competition, Russia placed second and Sweden placed third.

    Yesterday in PhotoBlog, we ran images from the women's relay

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  • Russia snatches win in women's relay biathlon

    Jens Meyer / AP

    Olga Vilukhina of Russia skis during the women 4 x 6 km relay at the Biathlon World Cup in Oberhof, Germany, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. Russia won the competition.

    AP reports: OBERHOF, Germany - Germany looked set to claim the women's relay at the biathlon World Cup until a dramatic collapse allowed Russia to snatch victory on Wednesday.

    Two-time Olympic champion Magdalena Neuner had a commanding lead of 20 seconds for the home team going into the final shoot, but could hit the target only once, forcing her to do four penalty laps.

    Olga Vilukhina took full advantage to anchor the Russia team of Anna Bogaliy-Titovets, Svetlana Sleptsova and Olga Zaitseva to victory in 1 hour, 19 minutes, 32 seconds.

    Robert Michael / AFP - Getty Images

    Russia's biathlet Olga Vilukhina (L) and Germany's biathlet Magdalena Neuner compete at the shooting range during the women's 4 x 6 km relay event of the IBU biathlon World Cup in the eastern German town of Oberhof on Jan. 4, 2012.

    Jens-Ulrich Koch / AP

    Russia's Olga Vilukhina celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the Women's 4x6km biathlon relay during the Biathlon World Cup event in Oberhof, eastern Germany, Wednesday, Jan 4, 2012.

     

     

     

  • Sergei Ilnitsky / EPA

    Biathletes run during a training session for the Biathlon World Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, on Friday, Mar. 4. The Biathlon World Championships 2011 take place from March 3-13, 2011.

    Training for the Biathlon World Championships

    By Jonathan Woods, msnbc.com

    I love how the shadows and shapes seem to interact with each other in this picture.