In the middle of the season, biathlon national coach Uros Velepec announces his resignation. It comes as a surprise, but is consistent – and offers the “big chance” for a fresh start.
The bronze medal was hardly stowed away, when the surprising relay success of the German biathletes at the World Cup in Lenzerheide was already clouded: National coach Uros Velepec resigned from his office with immediate effect, the German Ski Association reported on Tuesday (February 25, 2025).
A bang in the middle of the current season. Not only sports director Felix Bitterling was surprised by the decision. Even one or the other protégé from Velepec may have fallen down the jaw for a moment.
Rider comes earlier than expected
However, there is no time to deal with it. By the end of March there are still three World Cups in which the foundation stone is to be laid for successful season preparation. In the focus, Tobias Reiter, who recently looked after the men in the IBU Cup, will be in the spotlight and now takes over the office of head coach.
A consciously decided to have an internal solution, and had to have riders in mind as a potential successor for Velepec for some time, Bitterling emphasized – but actually only “For the next Olympic cycle“.
The fact that the 39-year-old is already going on is “Definitely not broken leg, but a great opportunity“. Rider is”One of the best concept coaches we have in the biathlon area“, Bitterling praised:”The athletes are full of praise for its structure and the clear direction he shows. “
Once a coach of Franziska Preuß
Reiter was traveling as an athlete in the second-class European Cup (today IBU-Cup) during his active time, but ended his career in his mid-20s. He then hit his coaching career and initially became a coach at the Bavarian Ski Association.
In 2012 he led a certain Franziska Preuss to three gold medals at the Olympic Youth Games. To date, he is an important guide for the leader in the overall World Cup. Between 2014 and 2018 he also looked after German women as a discipline trainer.
No “miracle things” are expected from riders
Together with cross-country trainer Jens Filbrich, he should above all “above all” in the remaining three World Cup weeks “a smooth transition“Ensure and”release positive energies “. Reiter and Filbrich already know each other from a season together in the IBU Cup. The constellation carries little risks.
Rider is in the current situation “Exactly the trainer it needs now“, Bitterling affirmed. First of all, it is important for him to get to know the team and to develop a feeling for the acute construction sites.”Miracle thing“You don’t expect until the end of the season.
The new German national coach can start his office without too much pressure and has a certain preliminary before the actual work begins with the early presentation. This is also a merit of Velepec who “”Don’t wait any longer, but rather immediately“wanted to clear the way for a new long.
Velepec ‘approaches only fragated to a limited extent
However, the early departure of the Slovenen came as a surprise to many. Sure, the German biathletes had not been able to convince this winter, the gap to the top of the world has continued to grown. Not only the latest title fights in Switzerland showed this. At least the relay medal gave a ray of hope that wanted to build up in the remaining three World Cup weeks to set the course for a successful Olympic season. But even the reasonably conciliatory conclusion could no longer change Velepec.
In 2023 he had started the severe legacy of Mark Kirchner as head coach and early on the focus on the problem area of German men, shooting. However, his approaches didn’t really fertilize. With the exception of Justus Strelow, his protégés had to cope with setbacks at the shooting range again and again. There was no accuracy and shooting speed – and ultimately also at the running pace.
Big gap to the top nations
Apparently Velepec also saw it that way. It needs “A new impulse“, the 58-year-old emphasized, “Maybe also a new form of address“. At least his words can be seen that he was in the end with his Latin. Probably also because his work approaches stagnated and the team offered little development potential with an average of almost 30 years.
He is highly counted that Velepec draws the consequences from the unsatisfactory results and releases the way for a fresh start before the next season. It was not for nothing that Bitterling thanked him for the work in the past two years – and looked forward to the front under the new national coach Tobias Reiter. The aim is to “Motivated to start the Olympic preparation into the tips of the hair. “