The three-time winner of the season, Simon Schempp, will also be absent from the relay on Friday at the Biathlon Home World Cup in Ruhpolding. The 27-year-old, who skipped the individual race on Wednesday and all three competitions the previous week due to the aftermath of a cold, was not selected for the relay (3:30 p.m.). In the second relay competition of the season, national coach Mark Kirchner is now sending Erik Lesser, Johannes Kühn, Arnd Peiffer and Benedikt Doll into the race.