After the opening weekend, the biathlon world was amazed at the German team, which achieved top results across the board in Östersund, which could hardly have been expected in advance. A former cross-country skier sees a connection with the material and doubts that things will continue like this for the DSV team.
The first stop of the 2023/24 Biathlon World Cup was all about the German team, which left Östersund with two yellow jerseys in its own ranks. An outstanding result, which in the eyes of the Italian cross-country skiing Olympic champion Pietro Piller Cottrer doesn’t mean that much.
“It’s not time for conclusions yet, but everything went right for the German team in Östersund. There is no doubt that they are in an exceptional physical condition,” the Italian initially praised in an interview with the “Fondo Italia” portal Performance of the DSV team.
Did the German biathletes benefit from the conditions?
But then he qualified: “The material [der Deutschen] “It was great, but I remember how they were always able to get a little more out of their skis in very cold conditions.”
In order to evaluate a possible material advantage, one must “first wait for the feedback on other snow,” Cottrer indicated that the DSV team may have had a big advantage in Östersund that could already be history in Hochfilzen.
Although the former cross-country skier still doubts that German dominance will continue, he was impressed by what he has seen so far. “You certainly did an incredible job in Östersund,” praised the 2006 Olympic relay champion.
Whether the German biathlon stars can continue their run from Östersund will be seen in just a few days. The second World Cup weekend of the season begins in Hochfilzen on Friday. It starts at 11:30 a.m. with the men’s sprint.