The German biathlon plan: more risk for more medals
In the hunt for Norway's super biathletes, the German ski hunters are breaking new ground in a landmark winter. "We have to take more risks, shoot faster and do everything 100 percent, otherwise we have no chance," said the new national coach Uroš Velepec.
Following the end of Olympic champion Denise Herrmann-Wick's career and the retirement of long-time head coach Mark Kirchner, the mixed competitions in Östersund, Sweden, on Saturday (12.30 p.m./ARD and Eurosport) mark the start of a World Championship season that still has some unanswered questions.
"We hope that everyone will take a step forward," said Velepec. The 56-year-old Slovenian was Kirchner's assistant until the spring. However, after more than a decade in a position of responsibility, the Thuringian retired and is now in charge of young talent. "The pressure is greater now," said Velepec. Because his athletes are expected to continue their success in the Germans' favorite winter sport on TV.
Most successful athlete no longer with them
However, Saxony's Herrmann-Wick, the most successful athlete, who has recently concealed a lot with her victories and medals, is missing. "A protective shield is now gone, Denise has brought that through performance," said sports director Felix Bitterling: "This is now an opportunity for new faces."
However, the situation is very different for the men and women. While nobody in the men's team apart from former world champion Benedikt Doll (33) seems to be able to consistently keep up with the overpowering Norwegians around perennial winner Johannes Thingnes Bö and pursuer Sturla Holm Laegreid, a women's team with many hopefuls is growing up. However, they still don't seem to be far enough along to hold their own against stars such as Elvira and Hanna Öberg (Sweden), Lisa Vittozzi (Italy) or Julia Simon (France). "I'm not at all worried about 2026 for the women," said Bitterling nonetheless.
And 2026 is the big goal. At the Olympic Games in Italy's biathlon Mecca Antholz, medals are a must. That's why there have already been long training camps at altitude for the first time in preparation. "We need more data from altitude," said Velepec. If the World Championships take place in February 2024 in the lowlands in Nove Mesto/Czech Republic, then in 2025 it's off to the World Championships altitude of Lenzerheide in Switzerland and finally back to a good 1500 meters in South Tyrol, where the Olympic medals will be awarded in Antholz.
Doll with a good feeling
"We've been to lots of new places and done lots of different sessions," said Doll from the Black Forest: "I have a good feeling. The most important thing for us is consistently good shooting performances." If he regularly hits 90 percent of the targets and runs like in previous years, "there could be a few podium places," said Doll, who will probably retire after the winter. He won the 20-kilometre race in Östersund in the spring, and this competition will be the first individual discipline of the season on Sunday.
Who else is capable of top results? In the women's event, many hopes are pinned on the return of Franziska Preuß. The 29-year-old Bavarian had to end last season prematurely in January and was recovering from health problems. On her return, she won all three titles at the German championships on roller skis. If she stays healthy, she could become the new leader. Vanessa Voigt (26), Sophia Schneider (26) and Hanna Kebinger (25) are also capable of attacking at the front. Selina Grotian is also expected to do well. The 19-year-old from Garmisch-Partenkirchen became a four-time junior world champion in the spring and is regarded as the biggest talent.
The men are lacking such young hopefuls, there are no top talents around the age of 20. Johannes Kühn (32), Roman Rees and Philipp Nawrath (both 30) are significantly older. "It really is a shark tank, but we want to introduce the youngsters," said Bitterling. The competition at the top of the world is fierce. As in the previous season, the Norwegians once again have a whole squad that can decide victories among themselves. At their own season opener just two weeks ago, they outclassed the international competition.
Fluoro wax ban
Apparently they are also benefiting from the ban on fluoride wax when preparing skis. This ban also applies to biathletes at the start of the winter, as an EU directive banning certain fluorine compounds is being implemented. They are considered harmful to the environment and health, but make the skis fast. The Norwegians have done a lot of tinkering and apologized for their blatant material advantages after the test races. It will be exciting to see whether and how quickly the competition can catch up in this area.
The signing of Jens Filbrich was an important step for the Germans to improve their running performance. The former world-class cross-country skier from Thuringia is responsible for running training and wants to drive improvements. The shooting times were also fine-tuned in the summer. "We simply need too long for the first shot," said Bitterling. The Norwegians around Bö are much more aggressive and uncompromising with the gun, sometimes risking a mistake. Doll and Co. should orient themselves even more towards this in future.
The German biathlon team is eager to make their mark in the winter sports scene, particularly in the World Cup, as they aim to fill the void left by retired Olympic champion Denise Herrmann-Wick. They are hoping that their female athletes will be able to challenge the top performers such as Elvira and Hanna Öberg from Sweden, Lisa Vittozzi from Italy, and Julia Simon from France.
In the midst of their preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games in Antholz, Italy, the team has been focusing on altitude training, recognizing the importance of collecting data from high altitudes for optimal performance. The men's team, in particular, is looking forward to the continued success of former world champion Benedikt Doll, who is expected to deliver consistent shooting performances leading to potential podium placements.
Source: www.dpa.com
