The biathlon elite traditionally visit Schalke between the holidays on Sundays. There are two personnel changes before the show event in Gelsenkirchen.
As the organizer officially confirmed, the Austrian Anna Gandler will miss the biathlon spectacle at Schalke due to illness. Tamara Steiner moves to David Komatz’s side instead.
There is also a change in the Slovenian team. Miha Dovzan replaces Lovro Planko. The latter had previously replaced Jakov Fak. Dovzan is now competing together with Anamarija Lampic.
German biathlon team wants to break the ban
The German national biathlon team is sending Marlene Fichtner and Danilo Riethmüller as well as Justus Strelow with Janina Hettich-Walz into the race.
The German Ski Association wants to end a dry spell at the 22nd edition on Sunday. Vanessa Hinz and Simon Schempp last won the mass start and pursuit for the DSV in 2016.
Biathlon sports director Felix Bitterling hopes that the two German duos can “be in the race for the top places for a long time, make it to the podium and offer the fans a strong show.”
Biathlon at Schalke: Top favorites come from France
Lou Jeanmonnot and Fabien Claude from France are considered the top favorites. Jeanmonnot is currently leading the overall biathlon World Cup.
“The biathlon on Schalke will remain the winter sports event with cult status in 2025 – a highlight right in the heart of the Ruhr area that captivates tens of thousands of people every year. The collaboration with the DSV creates new strengths – this time it will be even better, even faster, including lots of surprises,” Schalke’s CEO Matthias Tillmann was quoted as saying in the summer regarding the traditional race in Gelsenkirchen.