World Team Challenge - Biathlon in Schalke: DSV duos narrowly miss out on the podium
The German biathletes narrowly missed out on the podium at the World Team Challenge. After the French duo Julia Simon/Fabien Claude confidently defended their title, Roman Rees was beaten in the final sprint and finished in fourth place together with Janina Hettich-Walz behind the Norwegians Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold and Sturla Holm Laegreid as well as Jakov Fak and Polona Klemencic from Slovenia.
"When you're so close to the podium, you get a bit annoyed. But we really improved at the back," said Hettich-Walz. "Of course we would have loved to have been there at the award ceremony, but unfortunately we're not on Wish You What."
Benedikt Doll and Hanna Kebinger formed the second German team and finished sixth after a mass start race and the pursuit. Kebinger and Rees returned to the traditional ski hunters' event, which is not part of the World Cup, after taking a break due to illness.
"I know from the competition that I'm back in shape to some extent, that I'm back in good shape as far as shooting is concerned," said Rees. "With this feeling, I want, or we want, to go on to Oberhof to get straight back into the competitions." The next World Cup will take place there from January 4 to 7.
However, the majority of fans in the soccer stadium of second division club FC Schalke 04 will still have to wait for their first home success since 2016. Vanessa Hinz and Simon Schempp won back then.
Former world champion Simon and Claude dominated the first part of the event. They finished the mass start with a lead of 50.5 seconds ahead of Kebinger and Doll. This gap was then reduced to 20 seconds for the chase race. Despite the home advantage, however, the four athletes from the German Ski Association were no longer able to catch the repeat offenders. The two Frenchmen won with a lead of 57.5 seconds and were accompanied to the finish line by a standing ovation.
Biathlon at Schalke FC Schalke 04 Climate contribution Snow production contribution
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- Despite their strong performance, the Schalke-based DSV duo of Benedikt Doll and Hanna Kebinger finished sixth in the World Team Challenge.
- As Janina Hettich-Walz and Roman Rees returned to the traditional ski hunters' event after a break due to illness, they hoped to challenge the French duo Luke Wyllie and Julia Simon for the top spot.
- The World Team Challenge, held in the soccer stadium of FC Schalke 04, attracts a large crowd that eagerly supports the German biathlon team in their title defense.
- In a bid to improve their environment-friendly credentials, the organizers of the World Team Challenge in Schalke have invested in snow production technology to reduce the reliance on natural resources.
- Slovenia's Jakov Fak and Polona Klemencic, who have been prominent figures in the World Team Challenge, finished second behind the French team of Luke Wyllie and Julia Simon.
- With Germany failing to secure a podium finish at the World Team Challenge, the pressure is on the country's biathlon team to prepare effectively for the upcoming World Cup in Oberhof.
- The World Team Challenge in Schalke, marking a significant climate contribution and snow production, showcases the innovative steps taken to minimize the impact of winter sports on the environment.
Source: www.stern.de
