The German biathlon relay team wants to have a say in the victory again on Wednesday (3:20 p.m., in the live ticker on sport.de) in Östersund. But the DSV has to make a short-term change to the squad. Meanwhile, the decisions have also been made by the top competitors.
Sophia Schneider has to cancel her relay race at short notice, and Selina Grotian takes part in the race instead. “Sophia Schneider woke up this morning with a sore throat and symptoms of infection. Given that the winter season is just beginning, we don’t want to take any risks and first wait to see how the symptoms develop,” explained German med. Jan Wüstenfeld on Wednesday morning.
The 19-year-old Grotian is now in second place behind Janina Hettich-Walz. Vanessa Voigt and Franziska Preuß take over positions three and four. Preuß had recently missed the World Cup victory in Östersund by just 0.1 seconds. Her teammate Voigt came third, the victory went to the Italian Lisa Vittozzi.
The DSV stars also have to prevail against Vittozzi in the relay. The top biathlete was unsurprisingly named to Italy’s squad. The 28-year-old will try to win the relay as the final runner.
Starting in first place is Rebecca Passler, who had already been selected for the single mixed relay and will therefore be competing in her third race. The 22-year-old hands over to biathlon star Dorothea Wierer. The third runner is 25-year-old Samuela Comola. There is therefore no place for Hannah Auchentaller and Beatrice Trabucchi in the Östersund relay.
Biathlon ace Braisaz-Bouchet hands over to Simon
Meanwhile, the Germans will probably also look towards the French women, who are also among the top favorites. France’s line-up is certainly explosive.
Lou Jeanmonnot goes first and hands over to Cloe Chevalier, before Justine Braisaz-Bouchet takes her turn, ahead of the last runner, Julia Simon. A conflict has been simmering between the two top biathletes for months over alleged credit card fraud, and criminal charges have even been filed against Simon.
Meanwhile, home nation Sweden is sending Anna Magnusson, Linn Persson as well as Elvira and Hanna Öberg into the race. The Norwegians are starting with Marthe Kråkstad Johansen, Juni Arnekleiv, Karoline Offigstad Knotten and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold.