After difficult years, German talent is knocking on the door of the World Cup team this season. Even though the road to the top of the world is long, the coaches are satisfied.
German biathlon fans were spoiled for many years. Magdalena Neuner and Laura Dahlmeier ensured success on the assembly line, followed by ex-cross-country skier Denise Herrmann-Wick. She was the German figurehead last season and prevented a completely dismal year with World Cup medals and World Cup podium places.
After her resignation there was a big gap. But instead of sadness, there is a mood of optimism. This is largely due to Franziska Preuß, who is blossoming after a difficult last season at 29 and reliably achieving top placings.
Hanna Kebinger, Sophia Schneider and Vanessa Voigt also showed that they can be at the front on a good day. For young Selina Grotian (19), however, things didn’t go well in her first World Cup season (best placement 21st). She should now gain self-confidence in the second-class IBU Cup.
Tannheimer makes his World Cup debut at 18
Meanwhile, Julia Tannheimer will be promoted from the 2nd league in Ruhpolding at the weekend. The young runner will make her World Cup debut. The 18-year-old earned her World Cup chance with good performances in the IBU Cup. Unlike in the past, the German association also uses very young female athletes there.
Those responsible are happy about the initial successes shown by the change of course in the youth sector. “We don’t need to worry”said women’s coach Kristian Mehringer in a media round in Ruhpolding: “We always expected that and hoped that pressure would come from behind. Before, it often didn’t matter how you ran in the World Cup and you just stayed there. Now it’s optimal for us coaches.”
Julia Tannheimer celebrates her World Cup debut in Ruhpolding.
It is part of the strategy to want to see the young people and to incorporate them in a targeted manner, says sports director Felix Bitterling. We want to give them the opportunity to get a taste of it. Bitterling: “They should learn early.”
Youth research in the IBU Cup
Unlike in the past, the German Ski Association (DSV) has been operating a bit further in the second-class IBU Cup since this winter “Youth researches”top juniors should be introduced to the adult sector earlier. “Not everyone was happy”says Mehringer: “But the boys were right there at the forefront too, which is doubly good.” Three women between the ages of 18 and 21 have already made it onto the podium in the IBU Cup.
Nevertheless, patience is required. “It’s still a step or two steps to the absolute top of the world, as was the case with Denise (Herrmann-Wick; editor)”the coach explained: “We have taken a small step with the young athletes. But our goal is to get them to the absolute top in the world at some point.”
Velepec criticizes failings in training
The situation is different for German men. In recent years there have been hardly any young talents joining the World Cup team. National coach Uros Velepec, who only took over the position from Mark Kirchner this season, primarily wants to increase the shooting speed in the future and in doing so also denounces failings in previous training.
“We don’t have the youngest team. If you’ve been a biathlete for 10 or 15 years and have learned precision shooting in the typical German ski schools, it’s not easy“, he said in a media round in Ruhpolding: “But this is not modern biathlon.”
“Full risk and full attack”
That’s the only way to approach it,”if you are happy with 10th or 15th place. (…) But if you want to get on the podium, you have to shoot faster and take risks“, says Velepec. He tries to break the patterns of his athletes little by little.
“We tried a lot in the first year, but it wasn’t always good“, said the 56-year-old: “We have continued to train it since May. It’s better, but we’re not where we want to be yet. It has to be fine until the Olympic Games.“From his point of view, an athlete competes in modern biathlon”always better with fast shooting, full risk and full attack“.