The shooting range in Ridnaun. © Sportissimus

Curtain up for the IBU Junior Cup in Ridnaun

Almost exactly a year ago, a stage of the IBU Cup took place in Ridnaun. This is on the program in January this year. But that doesn't mean that there is a cozy pre-Christmas period in the far north of South Tyrol. From Tuesday, December 12th to Saturday, December 16th, the Ridnaun Biathlon Center will open its doors for the second stage of the IBU Junior Cup.

11 December 2023

From: do

So some of the best junior biathletes in the world are expected in Ridnaun Valley this week. Some of them were already in action during unofficial training on Monday. The anticipation is already huge, especially among the organizers: “We are ready to go, the preparations are going according to plan,” says competition director Manuel Volgger. “It could snow or rain on the first few days, but from Wednesday – perfect at the start of the races – the weather will be nice,” he says.

From a South Tyrolean perspective, we can look forward to the participation of three young biathletes. First and foremost is the local hero Birgit Schölzhorn. The woman from Ridnaun, who celebrates her 20th birthday on Tuesday, will compete in the Junior Cup in her home community with the support of her valley and her former teammates. In addition, two men from South Tyrol, Felix Ratschiller from Marteller and Christoph Pircher from Terlan, are also present, with Pircher recently even taking part in the IBU Cups in Kontiolahti and Idre Fjall.

France in pole position

The IBU Junior Cup in Ridnaun is the second stage of the junior competition of the international biathlon association IBU. Last weekend the first took place on Pokljuka in Slovenia. Among the women, the French women's results particularly stood out. In particular that of Fany Bertrand, who won the individual race and came third in the sprint, which the Austrian Anna Andexer finished fastest. In the men's category you can also hope for an Italian, the individual on the Pokljuka was won by the young talent Nicolò Betemps. The sprint went to the Slovakian Jakub Borgula.

In Ridnaun there are even two sprints (women's 7,5 kilometers, men's 10 kilometers, one prone and one standing), one on Wednesday and the second on Saturday. There will also be a mixed relay and a single mixed relay in South Tyrol's Wipptal, both on Friday. There are free training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday.

IBU Junior Cup in Ridnaun, the program:

Tuesday, December 12th:
10 a.m.: Men's official training
13 p.m.: Women's official training

Wednesday December 13th:
10.30:XNUMX p.m.: Men's sprint
14 a.m.: Women's sprint

Thursday, December 14th:
10 a.m.: Official mixed relay training
13 p.m.: Official training for the single mixed relay

Friday, December 15rd:
10.30 p.m.: Mixed relay
14 p.m.: Single mixed relay

Saturday December 16th:
10.30:XNUMX p.m.: Men's sprint
14 a.m.: Women's sprint