Roman Rees has to start the season in the IBU Cup. © APA/afp / MARCO BERTORELLO

Germany eliminates 3 biathlon greats

The German biathlon team is surprisingly without some of its most successful athletes of recent years at the start of the season.

20 November 2024

From: dpa/sn

Roman Rees (31), who briefly led the overall World Cup last season, as well as World Championship medalists Sophia Schneider (27) and Hanna Kebinger (26) are missing from the squad for the first races of the winter starting next week in Kontiolahti, Finland. All three will initially compete in the second-class IBU Cup in Sweden, but could be back in the second World Cup in Hochfilzen, Austria.

"It's a very young team, but we're looking forward to starting the season with them," said sports director Felix Bitterling of the German Ski Association. The coaches are relying on a fresh team, especially for the women. In addition to the experienced and already pre-qualified Franziska Preuß (30) and Vanessa Voigt (27), Johanna Puff (22), Julia Kink (20), Selina Grotian (20) and Julia Tannheimer (19) have received the remaining four starting places.

The experienced Franziska Preuß leads the German women's team. © APA/afp / TOBIAS SCHWARZ

The decisive factors were the coach's decisions and performances in the team's internal qualification at the training camp in Vuokatti. Janina Hettich-Walz (28), World Championship runner-up in the individual event in Nove Mesto, is pregnant.

Men start without experienced

In the men's event, Rees' illness before the Finland training course cost him his place in the World Cup. "He couldn't train much and isn't really in shape. But he handled the situation very professionally," said Bitterling. Johannes Kühn (33), Justus Strelow (27), Philipp Nawrath (31) and Philipp Horn (30) were set. David Zobel (28) won the qualification in Vuokatti, and Danilo Riethmüller (25) was given a place in the season opener by coach's decision.