Toiling away in the winter instead of relaxing in the summer: the biathlon stars have been in the middle of preparations for the upcoming World Cup season for a few weeks now. What is the state of affairs for the four top nations? Who is everything going according to plan, who still has worry lines on their forehead? sport.de provides an overview.
Norway: Unusual concerns and a big question mark
Two major issues overlap the preparation of the best biathlon nation in the world: the planned but incalculable solo effort by superstar Johannes Thingnes Bø and the vacuum that hovers over the women’s team after the resignations of Marte Olsbu Røiseland and Tiril Eckhoff.
The question marks are particularly large when it comes to Norwegian women. Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold is said to be the new number one, but there are legitimate doubts as to whether the 26-year-old can deliver consistently enough throughout the winter.
Those responsible also have these worries, as part of the preparations in Norway, Italy and Switzerland, they have primarily undertaken to introduce the younger athletes. The focus is particularly on top talent Maren Kirkeeide (20).
One thing is clear: Røiseland and Eckhoff have left a gap that is too big to be closed in 2023/24. Team manager Per Arne Botnan also knows this, who spoke of a “challenging” task – knowing full well that the team could fail in this task.
The situation in the men’s team of the Scandinavians is much more relaxed. After the first training camps on Mallorca and in Lillehammer, almost everything is going according to plan. Except for superstar Johannes Thingnes Bø, who trains at home and has already been the victim of some unforeseen incidents.
Bø himself described the fact that he missed around half of the team preparation as a “clear weakness”. There is already quite a bit of guesswork surrounding its form. Only a few days ago he showed unexpected problems at the Holmenkollen Ski Festival. That gives hope to the competition.
Germany: Top talent and new technology as a beacon of hope
After the resignation of Denise Herrmann-Wick, the German women also have to look for a new number one. Vanessa Voigt was the logical choice until last season. But the 25-year-old “human” after her famous rise and had to put up with some unplanned setbacks in 2022/23.
The big unknown in the DSV bill is top talent Selina Grotian (19), who is already predicted to have a great future. Those responsible will endeavor to limit expectations to a tolerable and healthy level – without a doubt a great challenge.
A major focus of the German preparation is shooting training. While traditional work was done in the fitness area in Herzogenaurach, on a multi-day bike tour through the Alps and in Oberhof, those responsible broke new ground here.
Shooting was practiced and analyzed under laboratory conditions in the BMW wind tunnel. National coach Uroš Velepec then spoke of “promising results” that could significantly improve the shooting results of both teams in the coming year. This is exactly what will be necessary in order to permanently establish oneself again at the top of the world. In spring, ex-cross-country skier Jens Filbrich was brought onto the coaching team to ensure that the DSV athletes were at a world-class level in good time.
France: guesswork about the number one
A breath of fresh air has been blowing through France’s biathlon team for several months. Simon Fourcade has completed his first few weeks as the new head coach and, according to the stars led by Quentin Fillon Maillet, has made a good impression. This is also urgently needed after the unrest in the previous year.
In 2022/23 there was so much behind the scenes that Vincent Vittoz and Patrick Favre had to step down. The bad mood was reflected in the results. The French were often only the fourth force behind the Norwegians, Swedes and Germans.
The French women, on the other hand, were completely convincing. Above all, Julia Simon put her stamp on the season. There are currently some question marks about the team’s number one. After Simon already missed the training camp in La Féclaz, she is also missing in Corrençon-en-Vercors this week. Although she had been granted special leave in advance, her renewed absence is hotly debated in France.
Mass start Olympic champion Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, who will continue to take care of her child after her baby break, is not back on board yet. Her return to team training is not on the agenda until August.
Sweden: The Golden Generation blows the attack
“Now or never” is the motto for the Swedes, who are traditionally strong at major events but regularly weaken in the World Cup. With Hanna and Elvira Öberg as well as Linn Persson, Sebastian Samuelsson and Martin Ponsiluoma, there are five stars in the line-up who are among the best that the biathlon circus has to offer.
Athletes and those responsible know about the quality of the squad and are aggressive these days. He is “not afraid” of Johannes Thingnes Bø (and therefore also of all other competitors), emphasized Samuelsson, who says with a view to the overall World Cup: “Our chances are good.”
The Swedes especially hope that fate will not put a spanner in the works for them next winter. Both Samuelsson and Öberg have been slowed down by health problems in the last year. That in turn hit the self-confidence that is urgently needed to finally beat Bø, Simon and Co. in the overall World Cup.
Christian Schenzel