Biathlon-Fourcade misses out on history as Schempp wins mass start

HOCHFILZEN, Austria, Feb 19 ( Reuters) - France's Martin Fourcade missed out on the opportunity to become the first male to win six medals in as many races at the biathlon world championships when two late misses cost him a podium finish in the 15km mass start event on Sunday.

The 11-times world champion, who climbed on the podium in the mixed relay (silver), relay (silver), sprint (bronze), individual (bronze) and pursuit ( gold), was leading on the penultimate lap but missed two targets in the final shooting session to end up fifth.

German Simon Schempp, who shot 20/20, produced brutal acceleration on a long climb and never looked back to beat Norway's Johannes Boe by nine seconds and home favourite Simon Eder.

"I could not manage the last standing shooting, I don't understand. I played, I lost," said Fourcade, who has been hampered by a cold over the last two days.

Fourcade, hailed as one of the greatest biathletes behind Norwegian Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, got off to a cautious start and was forced to make an early effort after missing one target in the first shooting in the prone position.

He then shot perfectly in the next two sessions but cracked in the final one.

Russian Anton Shipulin missed a couple of targets and ended up fourth.

Germany ended the championships well clear at the top of the medals table with a total of eight, including seven golds, ahead of France with seven, including one gold.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ed Osmond)