Norway somewhat surprisingly announced its squad for the Biathlon World Championships in Lenzerheide, which will take place in mid-February, on Monday. As expected, there are two prominent victims among the men, and a little surprise among the women.
At the 2025 Biathlon World Championships in Lenzerheide, the Norwegian men are once again considered the big favorites. Those responsible do not undertake personnel experiments for good reasons.
The World Cup squad announced by the national association on Monday is led by superstar Johannes Thingnes Bø. The 31-year-old announced his retirement at the end of the season at the World Cup in Ruhpolding and will compete in the last major biathlon event of his career in Switzerland.
As second overall in the World Cup, Sturla Holm Laegreid also has his World Cup ticket secured. He is one of the hot medal candidates in Lenzerheide, as are the nominees Vebjørn Sørum, Tarjei Bø, Endre Stromsheim and shooting star Martin Uldal, who earned his promotion to the World Cup squad with his phenomenal debut season in the World Cup.
Biathlon Olympic champions at the World Cup only spectators
Meanwhile, two other well-known names are looking into the proverbial pipe among the Norwegians. Neither Johannes Dale nor Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen made it into the World Cup team. Christiansen is still traveling as a reservist. However, a start is not planned for the Olympic champion in Beijing and three-time world champion.
However, Dale and Christiansen will almost certainly not end the winter without medals. The Norwegian association confirmed on Monday that the duo will compete at the European Championships at the end of January. If everything goes “normal” there, you should be assured of precious metal.
Little surprise for the Norwegian biathlon women
There is only one small surprise in the Norwegian women’s squad for the World Cup. The head of the team is Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, who appeared well recovered after her heart operation in Oberhof, but skipped the World Cup in Ruhpolding and will only get the finishing touches for Lenzerheide in Antholz.
The Norwegian women’s team is completed by Maren Kirkeeide, Karoline Offigstad Knotten, Ida Lien and Ragnhild Femsteinevik. Femsteinevik’s place in the World Cup is particularly unexpected, as the 29-year-old has only competed in one World Cup race this winter. There she impressed in the individual in Ruhpolding with 17th place.