analysis
There are less than four weeks until the first biathlon race at the Olympics – it starts in Antholz on February 8th. Where are the German biathletes? How did the ski hunters start the new year? An analysis of the Oberhof World Cup.
“An individual podium again, that would be cool” – Despite two fifth places and third place in the relay, Franziska Preuß was not satisfied with the home World Cup in Oberhof. “It sucks”complained the pursuit world champion. While she went from success to success last year and won the overall World Cup, things are not going well this season.
Preuss: “It’s annoying”
Preuß was first slowed down by an infection at the beginning of the season. Since her comeback before Christmas, the 31-year-old has consistently been near the top 10. However, it was not enough for the top 3 this winter. “I hope that one of them will fall at some point and that we can move up the decisive positions.”Preuss was annoyed at the sports show microphone after the chase about two shooting errors. One less and she would have been fighting for the podium. “It’s annoying, these were mistakes that could have been avoided.”
Preuß is not yet in top form as a runner
In addition to the shooting errors, Preuss is not yet back to her previous season’s running form. In the sprint she was able to place at the top with the ninth-best running time, but in the pursuit she only had the 21st-best time. “I’m getting along pretty well from race to race. I hope that comes naturally now.”Preuß is already looking towards the Olympic Games, where she wants to finally win her first individual medal in her fourth participation.
Five women have the Olympic standard
Five German athletes have already broken the standard for the Olympics. In addition to Preuß, Vanessa Voigt, Anna Weidel, Janina Hettich-Walz and Julia Tannheimer have already bought the ticket. That’s the good news. But the truth is also: None of the quintet has yet made it onto the podium in individual races this winter. And future hope Selina Grotian is still out of norm after flu and corona infection – and a bit away from her top form.
Voigt is strong at the shooting range with frustration in his stomach
The German women also impressed in Oberhof in their individual performances. But, as DSV sports director Felix Bitterling emphasizes again and again: “Biathlon is a complex sport consisting of two individual disciplines.” Vanessa Voigt for example. She impressed with faultless shooting in both the sprint and the pursuit. But with the 41st running time in the sprint and the 34th running time in the pursuit, the podium was a bit away. Nevertheless, he ranks fifth in the pursuit-only ranking. “I didn’t start the new year so well. I know I’ll get through the races. I’m not worried”said the 28-year-old from Thuringia, who also ran in the pursuit with the frustration of not being nominated for the relay.
Problem child Grotian
Bright spots were also Janina Hettich-Walz’s fourth-best running time in the sprint, as well as Julia Tannheimer’s eighth-best running time in the sprint and pursuit. But here too, as with Preuß, too many shooting errors prevented a top placement. The problem child remains the otherwise strong running Selina Grotian, who only had the 20th running time in both individual races and showed her usual weaknesses at the shooting range.
Only three German men have the norm
Philipp Nawrath, who came second in the sprint and celebrated, secured an individual podium at the home World Cup in Oberhof: “Finally everything came together.” In a windy sprint with many shooting errors, he showed himself to be a strong runner – and thus secured the second German individual podium of the winter. In addition to Nawrath, only Philipp Horn (third in the sprint from Hochfilzen) and Justus Strelow (fourth in the mass start from Annecy) have cracked the Olympic standard so far.
Nawrath podium as a ray of hope
In addition to the podium for Nawrath, Horn’s seventh place in the sprint (with the eighth best running time) and Lucas Fratzscher’s half Olympic standard in his first World Cup appearance of the winter give hope. “The second half could have happened today, that annoys me a bit”said the 31-year-old after his 27th place with four shooting errors in the pursuit.
Shooting remains the big problem
Shooting is also the big topic for German men this winter. In Oberhof nobody made it through without mistakes, neither in the individual nor in the relay races. Even the best German shooter, Justus Strelow, missed the target eight times in eight shots. “It’s a shame that I wasn’t able to perform as well as I did at my home World Cup. I hope I can do better at the next stop.”Strelow said angrily.
Looking forward to Ruhpolding and easier routes
And so the entire German team is looking forward to Ruhpolding. The women’s relay starts at the next German home World Cup from Wednesday (January 14, 2026). A men’s relay as well as sprint and pursuit races are on the program until Sunday (January 18, 2026).
“Ruhpolding is a route that I really like. The atmosphere there will be fantastic too. I’m looking forward to it.”Thuringian Strelow looks at the races in Upper Bavaria. The climbs in Ruhpolding are not as steep as in Oberhof. Thuringian Vanessa Voigt also relies on this: “This is a round where I can attack well in different passages.” For Nawrath and Preuß, the races are a real home game. “There is a lot of snow and something has already been prepared. We still have a good week there.”says Nawrath happily.
Preuss and the search for it Naturalness
And Preuß even hopes for a hint towards the Olympics. Lightness should return in Ruhpolding. “Maybe one or two more discs will fall there.” The clear goal for Ruhpolding is the first individual podium of the winter. “I know my way around there, I know the shooting range well”says Preuss: “It’s always good for your self-confidence when you know that you can run to the podium on your own. That’s sometimes nice for your head when you score. Then it becomes a given and no exception. That was the case last year, the penny dropped and I scored. That would be cool if that happened before the games.”
It wouldn’t just be good for Preuss if things came back as a matter of course in time for the Olympics. Because the Olympic routes in Antholz at around 1,600 meters above sea level are also tough.