From February 8th to 19th, the world’s best in biathlon will travel to Oberhof. Twelve world championship titles are up for grabs in the disciplines sprint, pursuit, individual, mass start, relay, single mixed and mixed relay. The German biathletes are represented in all disciplines and can compete for medals. But they are not among the favorites everywhere.
The measure of all things for men this season is and remains Johannes Thingnes Bö. The Norwegian dominates all individual disciplines and can even compensate for one or two shooting mistakes because of his outstanding running form.
The competition only gets a chance if it loses its feathers, and even then Norway usually flies the flag: Sturla Holm Laegreid and Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, along with Frenchman Quentin Fillon Maillet, are among the most promising candidates. From a German perspective, Benedikt Doll and Roman Rees are within striking distance if the strong Norwegians open the door. Both Doll and Rees have already made it onto the podium this season. They are seventh and ninth in the overall World Cup.
German medal hope Denise Herrmann-Wick
For women, the field is much closer together. The French Julia Simon currently wears the yellow jersey as the overall World Cup leader and has so far impressed with consistently strong performances, also thanks to her safe prone position. On her heels is the fast Swede Elvira Öberg, often followed by the Italians Lisa Vitozzi and Dorothea Wierer, who are to be expected in the sprint and individual disciplines in particular.
With Denise Herrmann-Wick, however, Germany is sending an athlete in top form into the race. Last year’s Olympic champion in the individual and pursuit world champion in 2019 is currently fifth in the overall World Cup. Herrmann-Wick has already recorded a victory in the sprint and one in the pursuit this winter. If she fulfills her target at the shooting range at the World Championships, her chances in these disciplines are particularly good, because almost nobody can match her on the cross-country ski run.
Good chances for the Germans in the relay competitions
In addition to Herrmann-Wick, the two German squadrons are also among the greatest hopes for a medal. Although the Norwegians are in a league of their own in the men’s relay and have won every relay race so far, the German team has a good chance of winning a medal. The team around Johannes Kühn, Roman Rees, Benedikt Doll, Justus Strelow and David Zobel is the first pursuer and silver favorite with two second and two third places in the season.
David Zobel, Johannes Kühn, Benedikt Doll and Roman Rees (from left to right)
After the early end of the season by Franziska Preuss, the German women are missing the most experienced relay runner. All the more gratifying that the young team consisting of Vanessa Voigt, Sophia Schneider, Janina Hettich-Walz and Hanna Kebinger, who was nominated at short notice, were able to achieve great performances recently. With Anna Weidel and Denise Herrman-Wick completing the women’s squad, coach Kristian Mehringer is spoiled for choice. With a second and a third place, the German women’s relay joins the list of favorites for the title, which also includes the French and the Swedes.
Shooting performance makes the difference
So far this winter, the German biathletes have not been able to celebrate success in either the mixed or the single mixed relay. Here, too, the strong nations are France, Italy, Norway and Sweden. Switzerland should also be an insider tip, most recently with a third place in the single mixed and a fourth place in the mixed relay.
From a German point of view, the line-ups of the runners in these disciplines will be decisive, as will the biggest shortcoming of the German athletes at the moment: stable shooting performance. If the Germans manage to remain flawless in the decisive moments at the shooting range, everything is possible, because the German biathlon ensemble is absolutely competitive on the cross-country ski run.