World Cup in Ruhpolding
German biathlete back in the World Cup after a long time
Updated on January 16, 2025 – 10:06 amReading time: 2 minutes
The DSV biathletes are currently stopping in Ruhpolding. A changed squad is starting in Bavaria – including a German who hasn’t competed in the World Cup for a long time.
Things are going very well for the German biathletes. Franziska Preuß is the leader in the overall World Cup. 20-year-old Selina Grotian is in a strong eighth place, Vanessa Voigt is in tenth place (you can read more about the upswing here). Now the German team continues to Oberhof in Ruhpolding in Bavaria. The women’s individual competition is on Thursday (from 2:10 p.m. in the t-online live ticker) – but with changes in the squad, as the German Ski Association (DSV) announced.
For the women, Stefanie Scherer replaces Julia Klink, “who will take a break,” said biathlon sports director Felix Bitterling. Scherer made her World Cup debut on March 13, 2020 at the time of the corona pandemic. The 28-year-old had previously won the single mixed relay with Justus Strelow at the European Championships in Minsk and was appointed to the A squad due to her good performances.
However, things didn’t go so well there. Scherer took 63rd place in the sprint and failed to qualify for the pursuit. The season was subsequently canceled due to the global pandemic. After the competitions resumed, Scherer was unable to match her performance from the previous season and was therefore no longer part of the World Cup team.
While Scherer is safely there in Ruhpolding, someone else has to continue to tremble. Vanessa Voigt was last hit in Oberhof. According to Bitterling, whether and when it can start will be decided “at short notice”. Either “for the individual or at the latest for the mass start”. If Voigt is not ready for action, Marlene Fichtner would move up to the team.
There are also innovations for men. Philipp Horn is no longer there; according to Bitterling, he, like Klink, is getting “a break” in order to “work on shooting again at home with his trainer.” Horn took 45th place in the pursuit in Oberhof and made six shooting errors. He also missed the targets four times in the sprint and took 44th place. He could “be at the start again in the mass start, otherwise it will be that time in Antholz”.
Simon Kaiser is also currently in the squad as a reserve. Roman Rees and David Zobel will be there again.