The Biathlon World Championships start on February 7th. When exactly are the individual competitions? Who are the favorites? The answers to the most important questions can be found here.
When and where will the Biathlon World Championships take place?
The ski hunter title fights will take place in Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic, from February 7th to 18th. After 2013, the city on the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands is hosting the World Cup for the second time. The organizers had previously tried unsuccessfully to apply for the 2019, 2021 and 2023 World Championships.
What are the special features of Nové Město?
Nové Město is one of the newer biathlon venues. The biathlon facilities were only built in 2005, and a World Cup took place there for the first time in 2012. Just one year later there was the World Cup.
According to the world association IBU, the Vysočina Arena, located at 620 meters above sea level and renovated for the World Cup, is the largest stadium in the current biathlon circus. The capacity is given as 20,000 spectators, plus 10,000 additional seats along the route. According to the organizers, 35,000 spectators were there on one day for the World Cup.
How many decisions are there this time?
The new world champions are being sought in twelve disciplines. The mixed relay starts and ends with the mass starts. In between there are the sprints, the pursuit, the individual, the single mixed and the relays.
| Date | Decision |
|---|---|
Wed., February 7th (5:20 p.m.) | Mixed relay (4×6 km) |
Fri, February 9th (5:20 p.m.) | Women’s sprint (7.5 km) |
Sat., February 10 (5:05 p.m.) | Men’s sprint (10 km) |
Sun., February 11th (2:30 p.m.) | Women’s pursuit (10 km) |
Sun., February 11th (5:05 p.m.) | Men’s Pursuit (12.5 km) |
Tue., February 13th (5:10 p.m.) | Women’s Individual (15 km) |
Wed., February 14th (5:20 p.m.) | Men’s Individual (20 km) |
Thursday, February 15th (6:00 p.m.) | Single-Mixed (4×3 km + 1.5 km) |
Sat., February 17 (1:45 p.m.) | Women’s relay (4×6 km) |
Sat., February 17 (4:30 p.m.) | Men’s relay (4×7.5 km) |
Sun., February 18th (2:15 p.m.) | Women’s mass start (12.5 km) |
Sun., February 18th (4:30 p.m.) | Men’s mass start (15 km) |
How did things go at the last World Cup?
A year ago Oberhof hosted the World Cup. Norway was the dominant nation in the Thuringian Forest. But Sweden and France were also able to celebrate several gold medals. Host Germany won one title and two second places.
With gold in the sprint, Denise Herrmann-Wick secured the second world title of her career. A few weeks later she announced her resignation. The outstanding athlete at the World Championships was Johannes Thingnes Bö, who won seven medals – including five gold ones.
Who are the favorites this time?
When it comes to men, the Norwegians are currently the measure of all things. The Scandinavians around dominator Johannes Thingnes Bö occupy the first six places in the overall World Cup and have won nine of the 14 individual competitions. If someone has a bad day, someone else is there. But the German team, among others, has shown several times this winter that they can be beaten.
For women, the group of favorites is a little more mixed. In addition to Norway’s Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, France’s Justine Braisaz-Bouchet has so far stood out with four wins. But Lisa Vittozzi from Italy, the Swede Elvira Öberg and Braisaz-Bouchet’s compatriots Julia Simon and Lou Jeanmonnot also have the best chance of having a say in the title. Lena Häcki-Groß from Switzerland also recently presented herself in strong form.
The biathlon course in Nové Město na Moravě (Czech Republic)
What are the Germans’ chances?
DSV sports director Felix Bitterling said after the last World Cup in Antholz that the title fights in the Czech Republic will be approached with “a lot of tailwind”. Five wins this season and a total of 19 podium places (individuals and relays) are on the credit side after almost two thirds of the season. The German team was already more successful than in the previous winter.
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The team went to the World Cup in a correspondingly “positive” mood, even if there was still a little homework to do. Benedikt Doll’s shooting form wasn’t right recently (two victories in the sprint in Lenzerheide and Oberhof). Franziska Preuß, who has always finished in the top 10 in her eleven starts this winter, had to miss the dress rehearsal due to an infection.
Basically, the following applies: you definitely have to have the German men and women on your list. Not only in the relay, but also in the individual competitions, they can be at the forefront, and they have proven that impressively this season. So a world title wouldn’t be a surprise. There is no medal requirement from the association, but there is hope for it, especially in the relays.
Who is in the DSV squad?
There is no big surprise for the men, the regular World Cup starters are fit and have therefore received the World Cup ticket. Danilo Riethmüller and David Zobel also met the standard, but they have to watch. For the women, in addition to the established ski hunters, two young athletes, Selina Grotian and Johanna Puff, made it into the team. Hanna Kebinger is currently unable to take part in any competitions due to health problems. Intensive training is also not possible, explained the DSV.
Men: Benedikt Doll, Philipp Horn, Johannes Kühn, Philipp Nawrath, Roman Rees, Justus Strelow
Women: Franziska Preuß, Vanessa Voigt, Janina Hettich-Walz, Sophia Schneider, Selina Grotian, Johanna Puff
How can you follow the Biathlon World Cup on sportschau.de?
The sports show offers a detailed live ticker, race reports and highlight videos for all races. In addition, the first week’s competitions will be broadcast live on the first and in the stream, and in the second week ZDF will broadcast.