Liberec, Czech Republic  - Lukas Bauer is finally enjoying the world championships in his native Czech Republic after being almost overwhelmed by national pressure in the run-up.

"Now I am enjoying the world championships, before it was only stress," he told a news conference on the championship rest day Monday.

Bauer won the overall World Cup title last year which led to huge medal hopes and pressure. He delivered a 15-kilometres silver on Friday but had to be content with 25th place in Sunday's pursuit.

"I am very satisfied with the silver and I hope to fight for a relay medal. I also hope to make the top six in the 50km," he said.

Bauer recalled how the pressure mounted in the past.

"It was very hard, not just last week but from last season on. Everyone expected at least a gold.

"I had health problems from mid-December onwards and I was then sick after (World Cup races in) Otepaa (Estonia, in mid-January). I couldn't do any high altitude training and didn't have a lot of time for my final preparations.

"The last hours before the first race were just terrible," he said. dpa