The biathlon event on Schalke has been an integral part of the season for years. Also this year, numerous ski hunters known from the World Cup will start in Gelsenkirchen. Now the organizers announced a first duo.
Janina Hettich-Walz and Justus Strelow will start the race on December 28th at the classic “Biathlon on Schalke”. The two World Cup athletes will compete together for Germany and try to start the first German victory since 2016.
The duo recently collected fresh self-confidence for the start of the new season 2025/26: Hettich-Walz won the titles and in the sprint at the German Biathlon Championships on the Arber. In the persecution, the 29-year-old only had to give up the overall World Cup winner of 2024/25 Franziska Preuss.
For Hettich-Walz, Vice World Champion of 2024 in singles, it was also the first competitions after her baby break, because of which she left the past season. She will start on Schalke for the second time.
“I was there for the first time two years ago and it was an incredible atmosphere. I am all the more pleased that I will now get the chance to start in front of this fantastic audience,” said the biathlete to her Schalke comeback: “The mood there is unique and something very special. I think that I also speak for Justus when I say: we will give everything to show a strong performance and to show the viewers an exciting competition. offer.”
Biathlete Strelow looks forward to “goosebumps moments”
Strelow also goes into the new season with a tailwind, and he also won three medals on the Arber: after bronze in singles and sprint, he managed gold in the persecution. He had already won in this discipline last year.
Last year he and his colleague Anna Weidel took second place in Schalke. “I am very much looking forward to the event, because it is something special between the years on Schalke in front of this unique backdrop. As early as 2024, it was incredibly fun, and the competition was also very successful. Of course I hope that this time I can achieve a similar result together with Janina,” Strelow looks ahead: “In a football stadium, I already have a real goose-like moment can hardly wait. “
The second German team, which will start in Gelsenkirchen, is to be announced around the World Cup start.