Biathlon World Cup: tight program and new rules

It's legitimate to check the weather every now and then. After all, you want to know what surprises you might have to prepare for, which means we are actually already in the middle of it in Oberhof, where the Biathlon World Championships begin next Wednesday. The data for this probably brings serious worry lines to the foreheads of even seasoned and experienced athletes. Gusts of up to 50 km/h are said to blow through the Thuringian Forest. And because Oberhof is located on a plateau, unprotected to the north, west and east, the standardized wind vanes (10x 40cm) may play a devilish role in the opening competition, the mixed relay. At least sunshine is forecast and things should get better afterwards, which is extremely important because after the first medals are awarded there is already a rest day planned, which you can spend gliding on skis on the Rennsteig.

Just a few kilometers in the densely lined forest will puff up your lungs on the longest and oldest long-distance hiking trail in Germany. You should just turn back early and not immediately see the goal in sight. The entire Rennsteig is 170 kilometers long. In addition, after the rest required for everyone, the World Cup spectacle will continue with probably better wind conditions. The sprints are on the program, followed on Sunday by the pursuit competitions, before the entourage is supposed to rest again. The timetable was worked out in such a way that the title fights last as long as possible and that equal opportunities are created as much as possible, especially for those athletes who will probably take part in the entire program.

Full program for the aces Of course, there are only a few hand-picked biathletes who can and will be expected to work continuously. Dorothea Wierer and Lisa Vittozzi (Italy) are such candidates, as are Denise Hermann-Wick (Germany), Lisa-Theresa Hauser (Austria) and Julia Simon from France. For the men, all eyes of the expected 19 spectators will be on Johannes Thingnes Boe, the superstar from Norway, until February 160.000th. Will he be able to show his class even in World Cup fever? Memories of the last World Cup in Thuringia in 2004 are brought back.

Dorothea Wierer is used to the strenuous program. © APA/afp / VINCENZO PINTO

At that time, a married couple, Liv-Grete Poiree from Norway (four gold) and Raphael Poiree (three gold, one bronze), won more medals than all nations combined. Unfortunately, the family happiness at the time did not withstand the storms of the life that followed. This time little Boe is preparing to take over the reign in Oberhof, although for the first time his possible victories cannot be registered as World Cup successes. The International Biathlon Union (IBU) has sensibly decided against its own rules of the past and thereby given the World Championship an even more independent profile. This is also accompanied by an increase in the prize money. The IBU is distributing a total of 1,57 million euros. Just a year ago it was a quarter of a million less. A win is worth €25.000. The sport of biathlon is no longer a poor house. A possible long-term winner like Johannes Thingnes Boe can easily take home €100.000, although the relay fees are not yet taken into account.

New even more difficult sections of the route Of course, this is all wild speculation, I know that, because everyone has to brave the powerful atmosphere that will storm the protagonists in the beautifully renovated stadium. Almost like a giant wave. And not just there. On the so-called “Birxsteig” the fans stand in several rows along the route and literally scream their hearts out. There is a wintry Tour de France atmosphere. Erik Lesser from Oberhof, who ended his career last year, sums it up in a very powerful way: “Anyone who is in good shape will love it, anyone who is in a bad mood will hate it.” The “Birxsteig” is after the renovation work for the title fights (the fans can now walk through a tunnel from one side to the other) have become even longer and even steeper. The journey, however, is no longer as pronounced. There is a lack of helpful momentum. This devilish climb got its name from the former route manager in Oberhof, Roland Schmidt, because everyone just called it Birx. The formerly legendary “Wolfsschlucht”, on the other hand, has not been part of the route for a long time and speeds of up to 80 km/h can still be achieved, especially on the shorter laps of 1,5 kilometers or two kilometers, because you start directly from the top of the “Birxsteig”. “Running, or rather almost racing, towards the stadium. It's the same in biathlon as it is everywhere: the challenges increase with the expectations of the spectators. It's all become a huge circus. Whether in Oberhof or in Courchevel and Meribel in the Alpine mountains.

The battle for market and TV shares dominates the scene. In Vikersund (Norway) they even want to build a ski jump that will allow ski flights over 300 meters. Stefan Kraft's world record is 253,5 m, set seven years ago. The International Biathlon Union is also in the middle of this competition, although the spectacular momentum lies more in the sport itself. Running and then shooting at targets 50 meters away with a diameter of just 45mm (lying down) and 115mm (standing) with a pulse rate of 150 to 160 beats. The balancing act between endurance sport and precision work is what makes biathlon so attractive. For the spectators as well as for the athletes. By the way: According to the long-term weather forecast, it will be cloudy on the final day of the mass start competitions, but that wouldn't be tragic, because then the many medals won will already be shining in the Thuringian sky everywhere.

About the author: Sigi Heinrich The multi-award-winning sports journalist (including the German Television Award, the Bavarian Sports Award, the Biathlon Award and the World Sports Trophy) dedicates his column “Sigi's Peaks” to the entire diversity of sports and sometimes poaches in foreign regions. Sometimes with a smile and a wink, or sometimes very serious and sometimes deliberately provocative. There should be something for everyone. He has commented on all biathlon races for Eurosport since 1998, including all world championships.

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Biathlon World Cup: tight program and new rules

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