Before the World Cup in Ruhpolding
Association removes German biathlete from the squad
01/12/2026 – 1:56 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
After the Biathlon World Cup in Oberhof, the German association reacted and removed Anna Weidel from the squad. The replacement has already been determined.
Things are going fast for the German biathletes these days. After the World Cup in Oberhof last weekend, the race continues in Ruhpolding, Bavaria, from Wednesday. The women’s team will compete with a different line-up.
On Monday morning, the German Ski Association announced the biathlon squad for the upcoming World Cup. Anna Weidel is missing from the women’s category this time, Sophia Schneider can prove herself in her place.
“Sophia Schneider is joining the squad after recent very strong performances in the IBU Cup. Anna Weidel is rotating out, but will rejoin the team at the World Cup in Nove Mesto,” said biathlon sports director Felix Bitterling, commenting on the swap.
The 28-year-old Schneider took second place in both the sprint and the pursuit at the ICU Cup at the weekend. Weidel, on the other hand, finished 32nd (sprint) and 43rd (pursuit) in the World Cup races in Oberhof.
There is also a change in the men’s team before the tournament in Ruhpolding: Danielo Riethmüller replaces the ill Philipp Horn. Bitterling has already announced Horn’s return: “For him, the focus is now on complete regeneration so that he can then get back into training with a view to the World Cup in Nove Mesto.”
In Oberhof, the German team achieved two podium places: the women’s relay team came in third place, and Philipp Nawrath also took second place in the sprint. “We are taking a lot of momentum with us from Oberhof,” said Bitterling, but also felt there was room for improvement: “It is now important to draw the right conclusions from this, improve the relevant points and present ourselves from the better side in Ruhpolding.”