Thrilling duel between Simon and Herrmann-Wick

Julia Simon of France came from behind to win the women's pursuit at the biathlon world championships in a thrilling duel with German sprint champion Denise Herrmann-Wick on Sunday, reported dpa.

World Cup leader Simon missed only one of 20 targets in foggy conditions while Herrmann-Wick's two penalty laps at the fourth and final shooting for a race total of four proved too much in front of a 23,000-strong home crowd as she trailed by 27 seconds at the finish.

Norway's Marte Olsbu Röiseland took bronze, 37.7 seconds off the pace, with three missed targets denying her a possible women's record 13th world title.

"It was really tough but a cool race. I wanted a grand final to the finish but then missed the last target," Herrmann-Wick said.

Simon claimed her first individual world title in a comeback from 10th in the sprint with a deficit of more than a minute on Herrmann-Wick.

She rose to fourth after the first of four trips to the shooting range, and fought Hermann-Wick neck-to-neck in the second half of the race until being clear after the last shooting.

Herrmann-Wick missed a rare sprint and pursuit double but got an eighth career medal at the worlds. Röiseland has double the amount with 16, and also two from Oberhof, following mixed relay gold.

Not competing due to illness where two contenders, two-time pursuit season winner Elvira Öberg of Sweden and Italian Lisa Vitozzi, who had come fifth in the sprint.