“I have to economize with my strength and weigh up what is important“, Herrmann had aligned her preparations for the season highlight in Beijing. But since her seventh place in the pursuit of Hochfilzen, stability has been missing. The last placings in the individual competitions – 23rd, 24th, 41st, 26th, 38th – speak a clear language.
“There were days when she didn’t quite show her previous performance in terms of running. But especially on the shooting range, her performance wasn’t enough for top placements. That was her big weak point“, Peiffer analyzes the situation. “The question is will she get a handle on that by the games. Because their mileage was good overall. She needs top shooting to run in up front.“
Vanessa Hinz – the lucky bag
After a mixed start to the season with ranks beyond the top 20, Vanessa Hinz burst the knot in Hochfilzen with ranks ten (sprint) and eight (pursuit). She also ran strong races in Oberhof and, among other things, achieved two top ten places in the mixed relays.
She responded to the disappointing 60th place in the Ruhpolding sprint with a strong reaction in the pursuit. There she made up 32 places and was just as fast on the cross-country ski run as Elvira Öberg, third in the overall World Cup.
In addition, major competitions seem to lie to Hinz. In 2020 she sensationally won silver in the individual at the World Championships in Antholz. Last year she played her part in relay silver at the World Championships in Pokljuka. “Vanessa is an athlete who often manages to perform at her best when she climaxes“, assesses Peiffer Hinz’ medal chances: “When it comes down to it, she has the ability to perform at her best. She’s a grab bag“.
For the big hit, in addition to a flawless own performance, the competition would also have to fail. A place in the top 15 is definitely possible for Hinz and should be counted as a success. In addition, as a solid and experienced starter, she is an important part of the relay team.
Vanessa Voigt – the shooting star
With Vanessa Voigt, one of the most promising talents in biathlon has impressively established itself in the World Cup within a very short time. The transition from second-rate IBU-Cup, which she won last season, was fluent.
“She has made the most gratifying development in the women’s team. I’m very positive about her“, states Peiffer. “She has improved her skiing and maintained her high shooting rate.“In fact, Voigt is a bench on the shooting range. The 24-year-old scored 20 goals in the mass start in Antholz.”She went through brutal personal development. She’s just really strong mentally. It doesn’t matter who’s on her right or left, she does her thing“, praised national coach Kristian Mehringer.
The Olympic Games are now the icing on the cake in a more than successful first World Cup season for Voigt. It may still be a bit too early for medals in the individual races in Beijing, but she is capable of placing in the top 15, as in the World Cup. Also in the relay she will be set with her shooting strength.
Anna Weidel – Worries on the cross-country ski run
Probably the most discussed personality in the German Olympic team is Anna Weidel. The athlete from WSV Kiefersfelden was preferred to the experienced Franziska Hildebrand and can look forward to her first Olympic participation. Weidel had already broken half the norm at the first World Cup race in Östersund with a strong ninth place, but was unable to regain her form from December.