Winter is coming to an end and with it the World Cup season. Whether on ice, snow or the ski jump – trophies and medals in the overall World Cup are still up for grabs almost everywhere. In some disciplines the matter is clear, in others it becomes very tight. What are the Germans’ chances? The sports show gives an overview before the season finale.
Alpine skiing: Gut-Behrami has it in his own hands
Mikaela Shiffrin has dominated the competition at will for years, including earlier this winter. But at the end of January, the US superstar fell in Cortina d’Ampezzo and injured his knee. Shiffrin, who re-entered the World Cup in Are and immediately triumphed, gave up her lead in the overall World Cup to Lara Gut-Behrami.
The Swiss took advantage of Shiffrin’s forced break with four wins from six races and, after the weekend in Are and before the World Cup final in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, is a whopping 282 points ahead of Federica Brignone (Italy) and 345 points ahead of Shiffrin. Since Gut-Behrami can still score points in three disciplines, it is in her own hands to take home the big crystal ball for the first time in her long, successful career. Shiffrin could theoretically compete in all four disciplines. However, your backlog still appears to be too large.
For the men, the winner of the big crystal ball has already been determined: high-flyer Marco Odermatt. The Swiss has also already secured victory in the giant slalom.
Biathlon: Bö and Landmark Tandrevold have to fight
After the sensational start to the season in Östersund and the takeover of the yellow jersey, there was briefly hope in Germany that Philipp Nawrath, Roman Rees and Franziska Preuß could cause a sensation this winter. Things turned out differently, the Norwegians got back to us straight away.
There are now a whopping six men at the top of the overall standings, led once again by Johannes Thingnes Bö. But the autocrat has to fight for his throne, because his brother Tarjei Bö lurks just 62 points behind him. The overall World Cup as a family affair.
Things have been exciting for women for years anyway. The leading Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold has 964 points. Only Lisa Vittozzi (891), Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (881) and Julia Simon (858) are really within striking distance.
Cross-country skiing: Will Victoria Carl break through the phalanx?
A cross-country skiing season that was pleasing from a German perspective is coming to an end. With Victoria Carl and Friedrich Moch, the DSV team again has powerful challengers for both genders after a long time.
Carl even has his sights set on the overall podium before the last two stops in Scandinavia. After the 50 kilometers in Oslo, the fourth-placed Thuringian is almost 200 points short of third-placed Frida Karlsson (2,078), with the American Jessica Diggins (2,437) sitting at the front, almost unassailable, ahead of Linn Svahn (2,278).
Thanks to consistently good performances, Friedrich Moch is also way up there, currently in sixth place. However, the surprise third-place finisher in this year’s Tour de Ski is more than 500 points behind fourth-place finisher Paal Golberg. At the top, Harald Ostberg Amundsen (2,345 points) will probably end the two-year reign of his Norwegian compatriot Johannes Hosflot Klaebo. Amundsen has a lead of 202 points to defend.
Ski jumping: Are strength and preparation giving way again?
Things look a little clearer for the long-distance hunters. There are two clear leaders among both the men (Stefan Kraft) and the women (Nika Prevc). The Austrian Kraft was by far the most consistent jumper this winter. His lead over Ryoyu Kobayashi and Andreas Wellinger is quite comfortable with six World Cups still remaining – including the final ski flying in Planica.
Among the women, who still have six competitions to go, Prevc (1225 points) has gained a 189-point cushion over the Austrian Eva Pinkelnig. The best German is the in-form Katharina Schmid in ninth place (640 points).
Nordic Combined: Overall World Cup goes to Norway
In the supreme discipline of Nordic sports, Norway remains unchallenged in power. Almost obligatory, Jarl Magnus Riiber secured his fifth overall World Cup triumph ahead of schedule. The exceptional talent therefore took a break for his injured shoulder, only to then set a season record with his 15th World Cup success in Oslo. Second place also seems to have been taken by Stefan Rettenegger (Austria). Jörgen Graabak (Norway) and Johannes Lamparter (Austria) are still fighting for third place.
When it comes to women, the distribution of nations is even more one-sided. Ida Marie Hagen (1340 points) from Norway secured the crystal ball early. Behind her are two compatriots, Gyda Westvold Hansen (1200) and Mari Leinan Lund (1044). Nathalie Armbruster (868), in fifth place, can still hope for fourth place thanks to her improving form curve; the Japanese Haruka Kasai (899) is currently there.