Biathletes back on the podium
DSV season even annoys the over-team – briefly
1/13/2023, 4:09 p.m
The German biathlon relay, which is reassembled before the season, continues to show itself to be consistently at the highest level: the team also made it onto the podium at the home World Cup in Ruhpolding. In the meantime, the men’s quartet is even briefly in the lead.
Benedikt Doll & Co. challenged Norway’s aces – and it was almost enough for the first relay win in 679 days: But even with the excellent second place at the home World Cup in Ruhpolding, the German biathletes continued to gain self-confidence four weeks before the World Championships in Oberhof. In addition, David Zobel, Johannes Kühn, Doll and Roman Rees put the 12,000 fans in the full ranks of the Chiemgau Arena in euphoria. “You don’t always have to hide, you can show the Norwegians what you’re made of. Of course they are currently a class better in terms of team performance. But we enjoy annoying them,” said Doll on ARD and praised the atmosphere: “Really cool atmosphere”.
The fans sang “Oh, how nice” when Rees had perfected the third relay podium place in the third race with a great shooting sequence and then a little later beaming with joy fell into the arms of his teammates at the finish. Overall, the quartet of the German Ski Association only allowed four spare rounds on Friday and crossed the finish line 20.1 seconds behind the winners after the 4×7.5 kilometers. Third place went to France.
The Norwegians, who were successful in all three relay races, and the French even conceded a penalty loop each. Bö let himself be celebrated on his final lap in run-out mode and grabbed the Norwegian flag on the home stretch. But it was the Germans in particular who caused enthusiasm.
“A Little Died”
The recently disappointing Zobel did a good job and only used one spare in both shooting bouts. Quite different from the Norwegian Sturla Holm Laegreid, who surprisingly even allowed himself a penalty while standing and initially let the favorite fall far behind. On his final lap, Zobel ran out of energy on the long home stretch (“I died a bit there”), but Kühn was just 15.9 seconds behind in chasing the lead in seventh place. “It was an unbelievably cool feeling how people go off,” said Zobel, looking at the mood.
And Kühn, who occasionally falters at the shooting range, did a very good job, only needing an extra cartridge for the last of his ten shots. On the final lap he showed off his running strength so that Doll was only 16.7 seconds behind the leading French in third place. “I’m very satisfied,” said Kühn. Ex-sprint world champion Doll really put the pressure on, but Norway’s Vetle Sjastad Christiansen caught up with the leaders. After standing, Christiansen led by six seconds, but Doll passed him and handed over to Rees as the leader (0.2 seconds). “It’s nice to be able to act and attack sometimes,” said Doll.
Rees lets squall go
France fell back after a penalty loop by Antonin Guigonnat. Rees, who was the last runner this time instead of Doll, had the hardest of all tasks: the direct duel with the exceptional talent Johannes Thingnes Bö. And the four-time Beijing Olympic champion, who currently no one can match in terms of running, immediately got up and away. “I can’t go with him at all, that would be presumptuous and wouldn’t make any sense. Then I did my race and was very happy that I finished second,” said Rees.
On Saturday, Anna Weidel, Sophia Schneider, Vanessa Voigt and Denise Herrmann-Wick (2:25 p.m. / ARD and Eurosport) want to follow suit. At the start of the season, the DSV quartet finished second in Kontiolahti, and they also finished fourth in Hochfilzen. At the end of the World Cup week, the last mass starts before the World Championships in Oberhof are also on the program on Sunday. From a German point of view, Doll, Rees, Zobel, Kühn and Justus Strelow are represented in the race of the currently 30 best men. Herrmann-Wick, Voigt, Weidel and Schneider qualified for the women.