Favorites & Co: The most important things about the Biathlon World Cup

A total of 160.000 fans are expected in Oberhof from Wednesday. Twelve titles are at stake over nine days of competition. We'll take care of the most important questions before the ski hunters' season highlight in Thuringia.

Where are we going? Oberhof is hosting the Ski Hunter World Championships for the second time. There were festivals in 2004, Germany won seven medals, including the World Championship titles for Ricco Groß in the pursuit and the men's relay. Millions of sums have now been invested in modernizing the arena on Rennsteig. Oberhof, with its 1500 inhabitants, is also an important training base for German biathletes.

What is the snow situation? Terrific. A few weeks ago there was no natural snow at all, but now everything is ready thanks to perfect preparation with artificial and natural snow. The World Cup stars expect the best conditions in winter temperatures. In the first week of competition, which begins on Wednesday (14.45 p.m./ZDF and Eurosport) with the mixed relay, it is expected to be cold and sunny. Should the temperatures rise and the route melts, there are more than sufficient 35 cubic meters of artificial snow available in the depots.

How did the last 2021 World Cup on Pokljuka go for the Italian team? For the first time in 9 years, Italy remained without a medal at a major event.

Who now has a chance of winning a medal in the Italian team? Especially Dorothea Wierer and Lisa Vittozzi. Wierer has already been world champion three times in her career, including twice at the home World Championships in Antholz (2020). The woman from Niederrasner knows what is important. She is also one of the world's best this year, as she recently demonstrated with a sprint victory in Antholz.

Dorothea Wierer brings a lot of experience to Oberhof. © APA/afp / VINCENZO PINTO

Vittozzi, however, returned to the top of the world this year after years of lull. The Italian is also certainly capable of winning a medal in the individual competitions. There are also the entire relay races in which Wierer and Vittozzi also have their chances. The men's hopes rest primarily on Tommaso Giacomel. It is difficult to judge what Lukas Hofer's form is like.

Who are the favorites? Johannes Thingnes Bø from Norway first has to be beaten in Oberhof. The 29-year-old is in a class of his own when it comes to running. If he hits well, he can't be beaten. There are also his teammates Sturla Holm Laegreid, Vetle Sjastad Christiansen and brother Tarjei Bø - there are five Norwegians in the top eight in the overall World Cup. The French around double Olympic champion Quentin Fillon Maillet will also want to have a say.

More even races are expected for women. Overall World Cup leader Julia Simon from France is as capable as the Swedish sisters Elvira and Hanna Öberg, the Azzurre Wierer and Vittozzi and the Norwegian Marte Olsbu Røiseland.

What does the Italian team look like? Half of the Azzurri's ten-man squad is made up of South Tyroleans. Here is Italy's World Cup squad: Women: Dorothea Wierer (Niederrasen), Hannah Auchentaller, Rebecca Passler (both Antholz), Samuela Comola, Lisa Vittozzi.

Men: Tommaso Giacomel, Didier Bionaz, Elia Zeni, Patrick Braunhofer (Ridnaun), Lukas Hofer (Montal).

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Hockey

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Favorites & Co: The most important things about the Biathlon World Cup

For the first time in eleven years a biathlon world championship will take place in Germany. Who are the favorites and what are the omens? Here are the most important questions before the big event.

Suggestions

Comments (0)