analysis
Not everyone was sure before the mixed relay at the World Cup in Lenzerheide that Justus Strelow is the right final runner for the German team. His debut in the prestigious position ended with bronze – and pain.
He just couldn’t. It seemed as if Justus Strelow was unable to stay on his skis for another centimeter. The Oberhofer dropped into the Swiss snow by abdominal gossip, his face distorted pain. The 28-year-old had crossed the finish line just before. Behind him and his team was a spectacular and highly dramatic mixed season – at the end of which Strelow secured bronze for Germany as the final runner. “The final round hurt. I don’t want anyone to experience it.”
Strelow has never been so excited before a race
So he was in the snow, the Justus Strelow, and could no longer move. Franziska Preuss and Philipp Nawrath, who had stormed towards him, now hung over him and knocked on his upper body appreciatively and joyfully. Nawrath, who went to the cross -country ski run in front of Strelow, quickly loosened from the situation and began to snap Strelow’s skis. His teammate was obviously not able to do this even at that moment. “It was still fun, even if it was a very hard race from the start”should Strelow say later.
It was a special race for the best shooter of the past season in many ways. Strelow celebrated a premiere: for the first time in his career, he started at the highest sporting level as the final runner of a season. “It was a completely new situation for me, I think I’ve never had such a soft knee when I was in. I was already very excited”the sports soldier gives a look at its inner life before his debut in fourth position. In the run -up to the experts, the development of the German team was discussed. Was Strelow really the right one in this position? He was an outstanding shooter, but would the pace in the trail be enough to defend himself to the world elite?
A solid start becomes a tremor
The German season had started solidly into this World Cup. The women in particular showed that they belong to the top of the world. Philipp Nawrath kept the DSV team on course, handed over the medal to fourth place.
At Justus Strelow’s last and decisive shooting, they all gathered. Selina Grotian hid half behind the gun stand and stared at the screen. Franziska Preuss also no longer blinked next to her, she had folded her hands in front of her face: “Watching is really worse than walking yourself in the final position. You are in the tunnel beforehand and then just make your race. It cost me a lot of nerves.”
“Justus rocked standing”
Philipp Nawrath was just in the middle of the interview marathon in the mixed zone, as he frozen and fixed the slices of Strelow and its quick-fire insert: “The emotions were most blatant when Justus rocked again. I was pretty sure it was going, and then it got really exciting. But Justus brought it to the finish and that was insane.”
A medal with two truths
Traditionally, Strelow has undoubtedly fulfilled what was expected by him, two sparkling clean, flawless and, above all, fast shooting deposits. However, the whole truth also includes that Justus Strelow lost to Johannes Thinges Boe over a minute over a minute of six kilometers. From a German perspective, it was happy that the competition previously opened the door far. This is how biathlon works.
Eleven relegated loaders in the German team are too much, but the penalty round was avoided and that was one of the big sticking points, in this case even the guarantee of success, Philipp Nawrath also knows. “Some of it crumbled at the shooting range today, which is really not easy.“It had hit one of the top favorites, Norway, Ingrid Landmark Tindrevold had to go into the penalty round, and the favorite Swedes and Italians also got it. But all of this was void with the finish line, from then on only the bronze medal won counted.
Short-sleeved to World Cup gold
The dominance of the French was almost frightening, which, despite the penalty round, won with more than a minute lead. They looked superior, calmly and with a lot of lightness, no trace of nervousness was seen before the start. The defending champion delivered ice cold, with a fire from the inside. The entire season ran almost lightly over the heavy routes of Lenzerheide in the short -sleeved top at Plusgeraden. The World Cup got its first French stamp.
“Maybe I can get back on the position “
Back to the German team: There are moments that are sometimes almost a little too cheesy to be true. When the German Mixed Season stepped onto the podium in the arena of Lenzerheide under the thunderous applause of the spectators, the sun was immediately shown on this first World Cup day. Preuss, Grotian, Nawrath and Strelow had to provide shade by hand on their foreheads, so they were blinded. “A mixed medal is very high. There are so many nations that can make the jump to the podium. That is worth a lot“States Franziska Preuß after this successful World Cup start. And one was particularly happy today-of course, the premiere cutter.”It was a lot of fun and maybe I can get back on the position“Justus Strelow put it on record and laughed. Who knows it wasn’t the last season at this World Cup.