Week of the decision in the biathlon: Franziska Preuss and Lou JeanMonnot have a showdown for yellow.
Franziska Preuss refuels strength at home. In Ruhpolding, the 31-year-old World Cup leader is preparing for her most important World Cup weekend. Preuss can crown herself to the biathlon queen of the winter on the legendary Holmenkollen in Oslo (from Friday in the sports show).
Melted ahead of tiny
In the trophy cabinet in the wooden house at home, which Preuss has built together with the ex-biathlete Simon Schempp, there are already many trophies, but not yet a large crystal ball. Preuss now has her close in mind. The Bavarian has been running in the yellow jersey of the World Cup leaders since December 13th, now she wants to take the last step.
But that is huge, because her biggest competitor Lou JeanMonnot from France caught up with week after week and only 20 points behind. Should JeanMonnot win the sprint on Friday and “only” run to third place, the French woman would slip into the yellow jersey. “I will also do my best in Oslo, I can’t do more, we will see what it looks like. But both Lou and me can already be proud of the season “”said Preuss before the showdown with a total of three races (sprint, persecution, mass start).
JeanMonnot recently faster than Prussia
After the best season of her career, Preuss has to cope with the mental pressure in the last three season races. The small (point) advantage is there, but the current constitution – at least in the last races on the Pokljuka – speaks for JeanMonnot. The French woman was in singles and masses faster than Germany’s top ski hunter. However, this could also have been due to the difficult conditions and the deep surface. DSV sports director Felix Bitterling certified Prussia one “World-class performance” And protected the best DSV runner in the team races.
Instead of still running in the mixed on Sunday, Preuss was already traveling home – with the yellow jersey in his luggage. She would be defended by Preuss Her leadership would be after Martina Glagow (2002/03), Kati Wilhelm (2005/06), Andrea Henkel (2006/07), Magdalena Neuner (2007/08, 2009/10 and 2011/12) and Laura Dahlmeier (2016/17) the sixth German who crowned the best ski fan of an entire season.