Will Franziska Preuß and Selina Grotian recover in time for the World Cup in Hochfilzen? The DSV sports director is hoping for a comeback. What is already certain: Davod Zobel and Julia Kink are two new athletes joining the German team.
With the hope of a comeback from Franziska Preuß and Selina Grotian as well as two changes, the German biathletes are planning the second World Cup of the winter starting this week. As Felix Bitterling, biathlon sports director in the German Ski Association, announced on Tuesday, Preuß and Grotian, who were recently ill, are in the squad for the World Cup starting on Friday (December 12, 2025) in Hochfilzen, Austria.
Bitterling: “Hope we can both get fit”
“We hope that we can both get fit for Hochfilzen. As we all know, both were sick.”explained Bitterling, referring to Preuß’ corona and influenza infection as well as Grotian, who also had an infection. “I can’t say at this point whether it’s enough. We won’t take any risks given what’s coming up this winter.” The highlight of the season is the Winter Olympics in February. Bitterling said they would “in the next day or two” can make a decision.
Sable and kink for Fratzscher and Fichtner
New to the six-person men’s and seven-person women’s team are David Zobel and Julia Kink, who are moving up from the second-tier IBU Cup to the World Cup. Most recently in Obertiliach, Zobel had his best result as third in the sprint, while Kink finished ninth twice. Zobel and Kink displace Lucas Fratzscher and Marlene Fichtner. Fratzscher missed out on sprint 64th. At the World Cup in Östersund, Fichtner finished 48th in the sprint. and Pursuit-44.
“Julia is also a very young athlete, she already took her first steps in the World Cup last season”says Bitterling about Kink’s nomination. “She is an athlete who basically has relatively good running strength. So we hope that she can take her next step. She showed good performances. Especially in the domestic German qualification, where it was very close.”
Six men and seven women nominated
The Germans go to Hochfilzen with six men and seven women. The men’s team consists of Justus Strelow, Philipp Nawrath, Philipp Horn, David Riethmüller, Simon Kaiser and David Zobel. The women’s septet initially consists of Preuß, Grotian, Vanessa Voigt, Janina Hettich-Walz, Julia Tannheimer, Anna Weidel and Kink.
Only two eighth individual places in Östersund
The German biathletes missed out on a podium finish at the start of the World Cup. In the relay and individual races, the DSV athletes came fourth twice, eighth three times and tenth once. The best individual placings were achieved by Julia Tannheimer in eighth place in the sprint and Philipp Horn in eighth place individually.
Last year’s overall World Cup winner, Franziska Preuß, missed the sprint and pursuit due to illness after finishing 29th in the individual. After finishing 30th in the sprint, Grotian also withdrew from the pursuit due to illness.