It is the highlight of the season of biathletes: On Wednesday (12.2.2025) the World Championships begin in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. And the German Ski Association (DSV) has justified hopes for precious metal.
The top favorite in all races is Franziska Preuss. DSV sports director Felix Bitterling relies on his top athlete: “If Franzi feels comfortable and can build a good feeling for the competition system, shooting range and route, you just have to look at the last results lists to know what it can achieve there.”
Prussia as the overall World Cup leader to the World Cup
Franziska Preuss is in the form of her life. The past few years have been shaped by many health setbacks. The home World Cup in Oberhof 2023 completely missed them, and in the title fights in Nove Mesto last year she clearly missed the podium places in the individual races, the season – once again because of health reasons. A sinus surgery in the last spring brought the Bavarian the desired success: Finally, the 30-year-old was able to prepare for the season without any major problems, and finally she was able to concentrate on the races with full strength.
Prussia has to “don’t conjure up” for medal “
The reward: this winter she was on the podium in 14 races – twice at the top – and is the leading in the overall World Cup. Inspired by these results, Preuss drives to Lenzerheide and shows himself aggressively: “If you have been on the podium for almost every race for the past few weeks, it would be a disappointment if you couldn’t make it to the World Cup ” the 30-year-old emphasizes in a media round: “The goal is to take a single medal home. I don’t have to conjure up to do that. “
Preuss has so far owned seven World Cup medals – but only one of them is a single medal. In 2015 she won silver in Lahti in Finnish. The rest are relay medals. But they are also something “Very special”. The DSV relay convinced this season, twice it was successful. Preuss would be happy to repeat a relay victory at the World Cup: “Especially as a final runner when you run into the finish with the Germany flag, and the others are waiting for you, that’s a nice moment every time.
Grotian as Secret favorite
In addition to Prussia, the 20-year-old Selina Grotian also blossomed into a secret favorite. Shortly before Christmas, the Mittenwaldin celebrated her first World Cup victory in the mass start of Annecy-le Grand Bornand. Grotian has arrived in the top of the world – and, as a strong biathlete in Lenzerheide, is part of the expanded circle of medal candidates.
Does the DSV biathletes go to the “The knot” World Cup?
For men, precious metal would almost be a sensation after the latest shooting problems by Philipp Nawrath, Danilo Riethmüller and Co.: only two individual and a relay podium reach the World Cup. “Good mileage were regularly present – and that is exactly what makes me optimistic”, said Bitterling. He sees no reason “Why this knot shouldn’t work at the World Cup. I believe that we will also see good results from the men.”
DSV: “There are none Medal specification “
Nove Mesto World Cup with silver and twice bronze is to be improved, even if the association avoids number games. “There is no goal in the sense of a medal specification”Bitterling explained: “This is just a little too striking for me and a little too black and white”.
You want to “Find a balance. We already say clearly and also have confidence that we want to win medals. But we don’t want to start this medal hunt that we now have the first and then start counting how many are still missing.” It’s about “to be taken up to the front at every competition. We want to go to the Flower Ceremony in every competition “, said Bitterling – in the seasons on the podium and in the individual races in the top six.
Source: Nicole Hornischer/Sid/dpa