World Cup in Östersund - Doll: German biathlon dream start takes "stress off the team"
The dream start to the World Championship winter is keeping the German biathletes calm. "It's definitely a start that takes the stress off the team straight away," former world champion Benedikt Doll told the German Press Agency in Östersund.
With the German men's relay team, the 33-year-old finished third, his sixth podium place in the sixth race of the season. After the retirement of Denise Herrmann-Wick, hardly anyone had thought the best start in eight years was possible.
"In terms of skiing, we are definitely doing really well in the men's team, and we have also taken a step forward in the fast shooting at the shooting range," said Doll. Nevertheless, there is still potential to do even better in the coming weeks. However, Roman Rees had even secured the yellow jersey of the overall World Cup leader as the winner in the individual race last Sunday, with team-mate Justus Strelow also surprisingly coming second behind him. The duo were missing from the relay with slight injuries, but they could be back at the start on Saturday (14:45/ZDF and Eurosport).
"The good skis are a huge reason"
"Especially two double podiums in the singles is brutally strong," said David Zobel. The women also made it onto the podium twice with Franziska Preuß (2nd) and Vanessa Voigt (3rd), before the relay team in central Sweden also achieved third place. What is the secret of Germany's success? "One huge reason is the good skis," said Zobel: "You can't achieve results like this without good skis. In addition, the right people have always performed well at the right time."
The ban on fluoro wax had caused a lot of headaches before the start of the season, but since the first race, the skis have been prepared perfectly. "We have a certain basic level, plus we have the basis with the good material," said Philipp Nawrath in an interview with dpa: "It's just fun when you realize you're doing well."
Even ahead of the overpowering Norwegians, who nevertheless won the relay in the end, the German quartet was ahead in the initial phase. "These are important statements to make and we want to keep it that way," said Nawrath: "We want to keep moving forward with a broad chest."
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Source: www.stern.de
