Dorothea Wierer will be absent from the race on Tuesday. © Teyssot / Pierre TEYSSOT

Wierer as a major absentee: On to the new World Cup week

The first week of the Biathlon World Championships in Switzerland is over. 5 of 12 decisions have been made. Athletes from 7 countries have won medals, but none of them are Azzurri. That is set to change in the next few days.

18. February 2025

From: fop

The second half of the Biathlon World Championships in Lenzerheide is coming up - and it should be more successful for Italy's selection than the start of the championships. The 2th places of Michela Carrara (sprint) and Tommaso Giacomel (sprint and pursuit) are the best that the Azzurri have achieved so far. As the World Championships progress, medals are finally to be won. However, it is very doubtful whether this goal can be achieved in today's women's individual race over 5 kilometers (15:15.05 p.m.).

In addition to the reigning individual world champion Lisa Vittozzi, the second big star in Italy’s women’s team is missing, namely Dorothea Wierer. After finishing 21st in the sprint on Friday, the 34-year-old from Niederrasen withdrew from the competition and canceled her start in the pursuit two days later. Wierer arrived already ill, but her cold symptoms worsened. She was actually supposed to return to the trails on Tuesday. But that didn't happen.

Doro Wierer: Chance of a medal on Thursday?

"We made the decision on Monday afternoon," reveals biathlon director Klaus Höllrigl. He hopes that Wierer will be able to compete in the single mixed relay on Thursday. There, if she is in good form, she would have a small chance of winning a medal alongside Tommaso Giacomel. Until then, however, plans have to be changed. Wierer's place will be taken today by 22-year-old Martina Trabucchi. Also competing are Hannah Auchentaller from Antholz, Samuela Comola and the in-form Carrara.

Lou Jeanmonnot is the big favorite. © APA/afp / FRANCK FIFE

However, none of the Azzurre are among the closest group of medal contenders. The number one favorite is the Frenchwoman Lou Jeanmonnot, who is still unbeaten in this discipline this season. Her biggest rival is likely to be the overall World Cup leader Franziska Preuß. The German has already won a complete set of medals in the canton of Graubünden. A small detail on the side: Alongside Preuß, Johanna Puff will also be competing for Germany for the first time at this World Championship. She is the girlfriend of South Tyrol's biathlon ace Lukas Hofer and was recently crowned individual European champion in Martell.