The biathlon at Schalke enters its 20th edition on December 28th – and has lost little of its charm. For some German ski hunters who have recently been ill, it is an important test of form.
A white ribbon in the middle of a football stadium, shooting under a closed roof without the influence of wind – and the cheering and groaning of more than 50,000 spectators: For Benedikt Doll, the biathlon at Schalke has not lost any of its charm, even in its 20th edition. “Running through the tunnel into the stadium and the fans getting loud is unique. You don’t get that anywhere else,” enthused the 33-year-old: “It gives you goosebumps.”
The show event, which has been held since 2002 with a two-year break, has long since become a test of strength for the absolute best in the world. This year it will be a particularly important assessment for the German athletes. With the exception of Doll, the DSV ski hunters scheduled for the race recently had to slow down in the World Cup. His team partner Hanna Kebinger was recently absent due to illness, as was Roman Rees. Sophia Schneider is still out at Schalke and has to be replaced by Janina Hettich-Walz.
The goals for the special single mixed format with mass start and subsequent pursuit on Thursday (6:15 p.m. and 7:05 p.m./ARD) will not be scaled back. A week before the start of the World Cup in Oberhof, the first home win since Simon Schempp and Vanessa Hinz in 2016 is expected. Since he has always missed the podium in the Veltins Arena, he is now “even more motivated to fight for first place,” said Doll.
As in the past, the snow for the unique event will be delivered from the Neuss ski hall. In the spirit of sustainability, Schalke 04 will “make a lasting ecological contribution to the region,” the club said. To this end, a project was started with the landscape agency Plus, where ecosystem services are to be provided on an area of 382 square meters in Dorsten this year.
On Thursday there will be the usual hut village with an apres-ski atmosphere on the arena site in Gelsenkirchen; the short running circuit has become more selective over the years. “There is now a steeper mountain with a challenging descent. That gives the whole thing a special appeal,” said Kebinger. The entire competition format is “very fast, the shooting is much more risk-conscious,” said Doll.
He wants to “optimize” the high-speed shooting in the show race with a view to the upcoming World Cups. After all, Lenzerheide’s sprint success shouldn’t be his last win of the season.