This German mixed relay has never existed. At the start of the World Cup on Wednesday, the dream of a perfect start to the title fights for Franziska Preuss and Co. should come true with a premiere.
The German biathlon team starts with the nominally strongest line-up in the first World Cup race on Wednesday (12.02.2025, 2:30 p.m. in the live ticker) in the Swiss Lenzerheide: In the 4×6-kilometer mixed relay, Selina Grotian, Franziska Preuß , Philipp Nawrath and Justus Strelow get the first medal.
2024/25: No German mixed platform yet
The German Ski Association announced this on Tuesday. In the mixed relays of the season so far, the Germans were fifth at the season opener in Kontiolahti and fifth at the home World Cup in Oberhof in January. The first medal is scheduled for Wednesday in Lenzerheide.
Last German Mixed Medal 2019 in Östersund
However, the mixed relays are not exactly the parade discipline of Germans in major events: the last medal win so far was six years ago: 2019 at the World Cup in the Swedish Östersund the DSV quartet was second-with the now resigned Vanessa Hinz, Denise Herrmann- Wick, Arnd Peiffer and Benedikt Doll.
In the end it did not go so well: At the 2024 World Cup in Nove Mesto, the German fifth, sixth at the home World Cup in Oberhof in Oberhof, fifth at the 2022 Olympics, the 2021 World Cup in Popljuka seventh and fourth in Antholz at the 2020 World Cup.
DSV team for the first time in this line-up
The Germans go to the mixed relay for the first time in the line-up Grotian, Preuss, Nawrath and Strelow. According to the World Cup stands, it is the best German quartet: Preuss is the World Cup leader for women, Grotian is in seventh place. For men, Nawrath and Strelow eleventh and 17 .. Strelow, who is one of the best shooters in the World Cup, have recently been used together with Vanessa Voigt in the single mixed season. The 28-year-old will run for the first time in his World Cup or World Cup career as a final runner in a season.
Favorites: Norway, France, Sweden
The Germans are not top favorites for the medals for the biathlon World Cup on Wednesday. The Norwegians and the French are the hottest contenders on gold. Team Norway starts with Ingrid Landmark Teldrevold, Maren Kirkeeide, Sturla Holm Laegreid and Johannes Thignes Bö. Defending champion France strives for the gold medal with Julia Simon, Lou Jeanmmonnot, Eric Perrot and Emilia Jaquelin. Norway won the season opener in Kontiolahti off France. Most recently in Oberhof, France was second in front of Norway.
Sweden won the victory in Oberhof and third place in Kontiolahti – Anna Magnusson, Hanna Öberg, Martin Ponsiluoma and Sebastian Samuelsson are to get the hoped -for medal in Lenzerheide Anna Magnusson, Hanna Öberg. Somewhat surprising is that Hanna Öberg received the preference in front of two teammates better placed in the World Cup: ahead of Sister Elvira and also in front of Ella Halvarsson. The German coach Johannes Lukas in the Swedish press explained why Elvira Öberg is not at the start: “Elvira is not yet 100 % fit after an infection.”