A day with Lukas Hofer: lots of sleep, training and special pampering

Of course there are situations in life where you wish you were in a bubble, a cocoon so to speak, a nest that ward off all enemies. And this is how the new bubble, which is supposed to protect all athletes who are currently allowed to be active, is supposed to work, although the enemy is invisible and, above all, unpredictable. Covid-19. But what is life like in such a bubble that strictly prohibits any unusual activity? Lukas Hofer gives us an insight into a day like this before a competition. The Montaler has recently impressed because he was the only athlete who managed to break into the Norwegian phalanx in Oberhof by finishing fourth in the sprint. A fifth place in the pursuit underlined his enormous athletic abilities just one day later, this Thursday followed up with another top ten placement at the opening of the second Oberhof World Cup .

Maybe the relatively long sleep you give him will help. The alarm clock rings just after eight o'clock, of course also for his colleagues Thomas Bormolini and Tommaso Giacomel, who live with him in a large apartment. “Both have already had a positive test, so the risk of infection for me is minimal,” says Hofer, who is happy to have company. Half an hour later there is a light breakfast. And then everyday sporting life gets to him and the training before training begins. “It’s not pleasant, but it’s necessary.” Lukas Hofer about the constant corona tests The muscles must be brought to operating temperature. Ten to fifteen minutes of mobility are on the agenda. So careful warm-up should be mandatory in every sport because it helps prevent injuries. This is followed by strength exercises for the upper body and core, followed by a short shower. Only then does the punctual departure by bus to the route follow and a varied training session that has to take many different aspects into account. Fast, high-stress units alternate with pure so-called “shooting range rounds”, which are primarily used to adapt to the local conditions. In Oberhof, for example, the wind is extremely treacherous, and this needs to be monitored carefully during training. Arturo provides culinary delights Then there is the first reward: a lunch that many teams are probably jealous of, because the Italian team is spoiled by Arturo, who is there as a fan. In the meantime, he leaves his restaurant in Bergamo to his mother. The team loves Arturo's recipes and, especially in the bubble, which doesn't allow dining out, a keen sense of spices and healthy food is an invaluable asset. The wet clothes still have to be hung up in front of the pasta, which is, as always, perfectly al dente. The rifle is dismantled into its individual parts so that everything can dry properly and be cleaned later.

Lukas Hofer during training © private

The skis remain with the technicians in the afternoon. However, Hofer does not remain idle. “Cross-country running is part of the regular routine,” he says. Gymnastic exercises are interspersed. And then comes a part that is indispensable for everyone: dry training with the rifle. The attack is practiced over and over again. Of course without ammunition. This training is not necessarily loved, but it is an absolutely essential part of a biathlete's life. The reward doesn't take long to arrive. Hofer's muscles are thoroughly kneaded and then Arturo's cooking beckons again.

“Afterwards,” says Hofer, “we usually play a little cards.” The curtain falls at 22.30:10 p.m. It was a day without a corona test. The last one was on January 15th, the next one is on the calendar on January XNUMXth. “It's not pleasant, but it's necessary,” says Hofer, who, like everyone else, is happy “that we can practice our sport at all.” What results in Oberhof or next week in Antholz will of course be reported promptly and regularly SportNews to read. And who knows, maybe Lukas Hofer will make it onto the podium. He's close...

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A day with Lukas Hofer: lots of sleep, training and special pampering

He is currently South Tyrol's most successful biathlete and has been a fixture in the World Cup for more than a decade: Lukas Hofer. Now he gives our columnist Sigi Heinrich a detailed insight into the life of a winter sports professional.

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