The capricious weather forced the organizers of the Biathlon World Championships in Nove Mesto to make their first small adjustment. Accordingly, on Sunday (5:05 p.m./ARD and Eurosport), the 2.5 kilometer lap actually intended for the men’s pursuer “could not be used”.
The reason was “warm wind and rain,” as a spokesman for the IBU world association said. Instead, a three-kilometer loop is run, leaving out the climb to Plackovec.
The runners have to cover an extra 50 meters per lap, so the total distance of the hunting race increases from 12.5 to 12.75 kilometers.
The German biathletes enter the race with no chance of winning a medal after material problems in the sprint. Benedikt Doll starts the competition as the best, 1:41 minutes behind, in 13th place.
After their triple victory in the sprint, the favorites are the Norwegians Sturla Holm Lägreid, Johannes Thingnes Bö and Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen.
In Nove Mesto there have been significantly plus temperatures for days, with occasional rain and gusty winds.