medal dreams in the pursuit

There are two competitions scheduled for Sunday at the Biathlon World Championships in Lenzerheide – and in both, the Azzurri are dreaming of their first medal. Michela Carrara and Tommaso Giacomel are the greatest hopes.

16. February 2025

From the Biathlon Arena in Lenzerheide

From:
Christoph Niederkofler

Two fewer penalty laps and the azure blue world could be a different place. Both Michela Carrara, fifth in the women's sprint, and Tommaso Giacomel, fifth in the men's sprint, narrowly missed out on a medal at the World Championships in Lenzerheide. With one fewer penalty lap, the duo would probably have won bronze. But these calculations are a thing of the past, and the next chance to win a medal will be on Sunday. The women's pursuit starts at 12.05:XNUMX p.m., and it's the men's turn three hours later.

“We knew what Michela was capable of,” said Italy’s biathlon boss Klaus Höllrigl in an interview with SportNews once again to Carrara's performance on Friday. "This season she has improved a lot, especially on the shooting range. We always expected a little more on the skis, and she delivered that in the sprint." The 24-year-old starts the pursuit 27 seconds behind sprint world champion Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, and 14 seconds behind bronze medalist Suvi Minkkinen. "Michela has never been in a situation like this before," said Höllrigl. "We will prepare her well for it and see what happens in the end."

Wierer and Auchentaller need to catch up

The situation is different for the two South Tyroleans Dorothea Wierer (21st/+1.11) and Hannah Auchentaller (46th/+2.28), who both enter the race with a large handicap. But the duo's deficits are not coming from nowhere.

Dorothea Wierer at the World Championships in Lenzerheide. © ANSA / GIAN EHRENZELLER

"Hannah was ill again in Antholz and did a good job in the relay, but yesterday you could see that she was not at 100 percent," explained Höllrigl. Wierer herself admitted after the sprint that she was not at her best. "I am not feeling well at all health-wise. I didn't know whether I should start today," she told SportNews and even left a start in the pursuit open.

Giacomel chases Bø and Co.

In the men's race, everything seems to be set for the next gold gala of the now sole record world champion Johannes Thingnes Bø. The Norwegian is aiming for his 28nd World Championship gold with a lead of 22 seconds over the American Campbell Wright. With the Olympic champion behind him, the battle for the remaining medals is likely to be much closer - with Tommaso Giacomel in the lead role. The Trentino native starts the course in fifth place, 20 seconds behind Wright, and only ten seconds behind bronze winner Quentin Fillon Maillet. Lukas Hofer (16th/+1.20) is making a good start after a respectable performance in the sprint, which had been marred by a "childhood mistake", as well as hopes for a top placement.