The German biathletes completed three World Cup stages and left a very good impression overall. They didn’t let a wave of infections or the new fluorine wax ban stop them.
13 podium places for men, five for women. That was the more than acceptable result of the German biathletes this World Cup winter. Felix Bitterling, biathlon sports director in the German Ski Association, is correspondingly satisfied: “The direction is extremely right“, said Bitterling happily after the last pre-Christmas World Cup in Lenzerheide. There is still room for improvement. “We’re not at the top of every competition yet, (…) but it’s important for us to see that we can get involved in every competition.“
Preuß recognizes “step in the right direction”
Franziska Preuß, who reached the podium three times and even won the yellow jersey, also assessed the season so far in a similar way. The Upper Bavarian is also benefiting from her significantly improved performance at the shooting range this winter: “All year I feel like I took a step in the right direction. (…) I made some changes to the weapon and it has a good, compact feeling when I think about shooting.“
Now it’s time for everyone to take a well-deserved Christmas break. According to his own statement, Preuss was “very much at the limit“in the mass start in Lenzerheide last weekend.”You could hardly feel the fresh legs.“It be”a fight for survival from the first meter“, admitted the Upper Bavarian. In the end it was enough for a seventh place for the current fifth in the overall ranking.
Zobel: “As far as I’m concerned, it could continue”
David Zobel achieved the same result among men as the best German on Sunday. It was a reconciliatory end to the year after a total of four DSV starters finished in the top six in the sprint win by Benedikt Doll the day before. “I have a lot more substance than last year and do my best race at the end. So, as far as I’m concerned, it could continue“Zobel joked, adding: “But of course, I’m looking forward to a few quiet days.“
DSV team survives Wave of infections
Things weren’t made easy for the DSV athletes this winter. Above all, health didn’t play a role. The German team was hit by a wave of infections. Almost the entire team had to take a break twice. Franziska Preuß had to survive a corona infection. Sports director Bitterling is therefore particularly pleased, “that we simply showed with the small dent in Hochfilzen, which really had a lot to do with these infections, that it was no coincidence in Östersund, but that we are a force to be reckoned with“.
DSV athletes defy fluorine wax ban
The fluorine wax ban also plays a major role this winter. This puts even more focus on the technicians. Bitterling also knows that they have shown a good hand in the German team: “They did a great job. The topic remains a challenge in every new place you go.“It be”completely new for everyone“.
Home World Cup at the start of the year
The home World Cup in Oberhof will take place at the beginning of January. A special race for local hero Vanessa Voigt: “It will be a great atmosphere, my family is there. I hope a lot of fans come to the side of the track again. I’m just really keen on it.“Then the German biathletes want to continue writing their success story.