Roman Rees had to watch three races. Now he can take part in the World Cup for the first time. Someone else has to give way in the individual.
A week after the start of the Biathlon World Championships in Nove Mesto, Roman Rees is allowed to compete in his first race. The Black Forester was nominated by the German Ski Association for the 20-kilometer individual on Wednesday (from 5:20 p.m. in the live ticker). Benedikt Doll, Johannes Kühn and Philipp Horn from the German team will also be taking part in the difficult and shooting-heavy World Cup competition.
Rees for Nawrath
Rees comes into the team for Philipp Nawrath. Justus Strelow is also not at the start. The Saxon has already received a guaranteed start for the single mixed race on Thursday.
Rees: “Burn for my efforts”
Rees won the first individual of the season in Östersund, Sweden, in November and even briefly slipped into the yellow jersey of the overall World Cup leader. “The focus is definitely on shooting.”said Rees, focusing on his “zero start” happy. “It’s difficult for me to assess how I compare to the competition. I’m happy that it’s finally starting and I’m excited about my commitment here at the World Cup in front of a gigantic crowd.”
After his win, Rees had some problems. He only came 56th in the sprint; he then left out his pursuer due to illness. It then emerged that he had been infected with the coronavirus in Sweden. After that, however, he started again too early and didn’t get past places 31 and 44 in Hochfilzen. He then skipped the World Cup in Lenzerheide and took a longer break from competition. At the World Cups in Oberhof, Ruhpolding and Antholz he was unable to return to his old level.
German men are still running behind
Overall, things aren’t going so well for the German men at the World Cup. Doll’s 14th place in the sprint and Kühn’s 15th place in the pursuit are the best results so far. On the difficult routes in the Czech Republic, given the course so far and the material problems, the Germans probably only have outside chances in the longest biathlon race.
But who knows – for the German women, their first medal at this World Cup also came rather unexpectedly when Janina Hettich-Welz sensationally won silver.