For the German biathlon men, the second home World Cup began with the individual on Thursday in Ruhpolding. In his column for sport.de DSV ace Justus Strelow looks back on the first results of the World Cup and reveals why the shooting range in the German biathlon mecca is so special.
On the trip to Ruhpolding, our next competition location, I took a closer look at the results so far in the World Cup. What strikes me: Compared to last year, the top has moved even closer together. In Oberhof, for example, there were only six seconds in the sprint between 15th and 23rd place. This is remarkable because the track there is very demanding and therefore usually tends to tear the field apart.
In addition, with the USA, Slovenia and Switzerland, nations that were no longer on the list are once again at the forefront. France, on the other hand, was in the lead last winter with just one athlete, now there are four. The question arises as to what the current developments can be attributed to.
In my opinion it is due to the ban on fluorine when waxing our skis, which was introduced last year. The individual nations initially coped with this differently well. Enough experience and data have now been collected so that the field can start again under uniform conditions.
Biathlon: That’s what makes Ruhpolding so special
In this respect, it is understandable to me that despite my good performances in Oberhof I only ended up in 18th and 17th place. The air at the top has become even thinner. However, that doesn’t change my expectations: Top 15 placements remain my goal in every race – ideally in the individual today!
I like the route in Ruhpolding with its many flat sections; the gradients are not too difficult. The shooting range requires special attention: Because the wind blows there evenly and not in gusts, the conditions are supposedly lighter.
The trick is all the more to remain vigilant, not to take shooting lightly and to risk unnecessary mistakes. In addition – another special feature – you can reach the shooting range from a descent. It is therefore important to arrive at the stand with the correct heart rate and an optimal pulse rate.
If I reduce the pace and strain too early, I risk a “hard heart rate”. My heart doesn’t beat as fast anymore, but it does beat very strongly. And these intense blows are then transferred to the weapon when aiming, which causes it to move. During the race, I decide what pace I choose based on my gut instinct: based on the current conditions and years of experience.