Titles, tears, triumphs: The tops & flops of the Biathlon World Cup

The 55th Biathlon World Championships in Nove Mesto na Morave is history. The 12 title decisions brought deserved winners, but also surprises. Despite all odds, the winter sports spectacle went off smoothly. The winners and losers of the 2024 World Cup.

19. February 2024

From: alexander.foppa

Best

Lisa Vittozzi: Her goal was clear: to become world champion for the first time. The 29-year-old from Sappada/Plodn achieved this with gold in the individual race. She also won silver in the pursuit and mass start, as well as in the single mixed relay with Tommaso Giacomel. Vittozzi has won all four of Italy's medals - impressive.

Lisa Vittozzi was one of the superstars of this World Cup. © Teyssot / Pierre TEYSSOT

Bø & the Norwegians: In the men's category, 15 medals were awarded, 10 of which went to Norway. The Scandinavians won all races except one, the most prestigious: the relay. Johannes Thingnes Bø did more than just make amends on the final day with his 20th world championship title. He equaled compatriot Ole Einar Björndalen's all-time record.

Johannes Thingnes Bø won a medal in all races. © Pierre TEYSSOT / Pierre TEYSSOT

Simon & the French women: What the 5-time world champion Julia Simon, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Lou Jeanmonnot and Sophie Chauveau delivered is outstanding. Thanks to them, the “Grande Nation” won the nations championship with 6 gold medals and 7 more medals.

France celebrated first place in the medal table at the team hotel on Sunday evening. © Teyssot / Pierre TEYSSOT

The audience: Yesterday another 29.940 spectators came to the Vysocina Arena for the conclusion of the World Cup. With this capacity, it is the largest biathlon competition venue in the world - and also the most atmospheric. The atmosphere in the arena was like that of a football stadium, and the athletes were enthusiastic. And also the spectators themselves, there were a total of more than 200.000 on the 9 days of racing.

The World Cup arena was a real cauldron. © Pierre TEYSSOT / Pierre TEYSSOT

Flop

The weather: Plus degrees, drizzle, fog and a dirty artificial snow track in the middle of a green-brown landscape characterized this World Cup. Conditions like those in Nove Mesto will probably be the standard rather than the exception in the future. The climate crisis is to blame. The IBU World Association is therefore working on future concepts, but the program has been finalized until the 2025/2026 season.

A white ribbon in the green forest: The 2024 World Cup route. © Teyssot / Pierre TEYSSOT

The material battle: In the confusion of materials following the ban on fluorine wax, many people lost perspective and hardly anyone found the perfect skis. Italy's ski men also had to struggle with problems, but got them under control after a few days. Only France and smaller nations such as Estonia and Finland were able to cope with the soft snow straight away.

The deep snow wasn't just a problem for Patrick Braunhofer (pictured). © Teyssot / Pierre TEYSSOT

The South Tyroleans: Apologies: Dorothea Wierer has been sick again and again in the past few months, Rebecca Passler had to wait 9 long days for her first World Cup appearance. A 10th place (Wierer) and a 75th (Passler) are not enough as the best World Cup placements for South Tyrol's model biathletes. Wierer has already proven in her illustrious career that she can do better, Passler, who is only 22 years old, can and will improve.

Dorothea Wierer gave everything, but had no real sense of success. © Pierre TEYSSOT / Pierre TEYSSOT

Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold: For the leader in the overall World Cup, it was a World Cup to forget. In the individual races she was never better than 10th, in the team races she won silver and bronze, but in the single mixed relay she "missed" Norway's gold medal with 4 errors in the last shooting.