In Slovenia, spring moves with plust temperatures and constant rain. This is not good for the Biathlon World Cup in Pokljuka. Therefore, the schedule was changed.
The Biathlon World Association IBU has changed the schedule for the upcoming World Cup in the Slovenian Pokljuka. As the association announced on Tuesday (11.03.2025), both single races will take place on Thursday (13.03.2025). Both individual races take place in a shortened form, the women run 12.5 kilometers instead of 15 kilometers, the men 15 kilometers instead of 20 kilometers. The women start Thursday 11.30 a.m., the men 3:15 p.m. Friday is the day off.
Plus degrees and constant rain
“Due to bad weather conditions in Pokljuka with warm temperatures and heavy rain in the past two days and as a weather preview the schedule had to be changed”it says in the press release of the IBU. Temperatures around 4 degrees and heavy rain are expected for the coming days.
“Rain and warm wind have caused damage”
“The route was in great condition last week, but the rain and warm wind caused serious damage”says biathlon race director Borut Nunar, who justifies a shortening of the running route: “We can concentrate on the 2.5 and 3-kilometer loop during snow preparation and use Friday to restore the route.”
Mass starts and mixed relays exchange the days
“It will be a challenging week – and we have to tackle it every day”said Nunar. The weekend program is also being changed. The mass starts, originally planned for Sunday (March 16, 2025), take place on Saturday. The mixed relay and the single mixed relay slide to Sunday.
Prussian wants to defend yellow
From a German perspective, the individual races on Thursday and Saturday are particularly important for Franziska Preuss. The World Cup overhead rider wants to defend the yellow jersey, most recently at the World Cup in Nove Mesto, her lead over the pursuer Lou JeanMonnot clearly shrank.
Source: Dirk Hofmeister/PM