World Cup opener in Finland: Biathlon relays without podium places – men’s series ends

The German biathlon relays started the new season disappointingly without any podium places after too many shooting errors and the failure of their top athlete. At the World Cup in Kontiolahti, Finland, the men’s winning streak was initially broken with fourth place, but shortly afterwards the women only had to settle for seventh place without the ill final runner Franziska Preuß. After all, Vanessa Voigt and Justus Strelow completed the first German podium of the winter by finishing third in the non-Olympic single mixed on Saturday.

The young women’s team also had hope of making it. But without Preuß and with the three junior world champions Johanna Puff, Julia Tannheimer and Julia Kink in the squad, nothing came of it. Eleven spares and a penalty by Voigt shortly before the end were too many in the Swedish triumph. “Today it just didn’t work,” said Voigt. The team had no chance of getting on the podium and was 2:51.2 minutes behind after 4 x 6 kilometers. France secured second place ahead of Norway.

A few hours before the race, the most experienced German in Preuß canceled her participation at short notice and was replaced by Voigt. “Franzi had slight signs of infection during the night, which unfortunately have to be addressed in order to prevent the symptoms from increasing further,” said team doctor Jan Wüstenfeld. It initially remained unclear whether the Bavarian would be out for longer.

Another setback for Preuss

The 30-year-old Preuß has had to struggle with many health setbacks in the past. She finished fourth with the mixed team on Saturday, but had to pass a day later. Without the former world champion, starting runner Puff (22) handed over to Tannheimer, who is three years younger, in ninth place. The woman from Ulm couldn’t work her way forward and sent Kink (20) off in the same position. Substitute bottom runner Voigt started in eighth place and couldn’t do much because of her extra lap from behind.

The men’s podium series had previously come to an end. After reaching the podium in ten World Cup races in a row across the seasons, David Zobel, Johannes Kühn, Philipp Nawrath and Philipp Horn took fourth place.

The quartet had nine spare rounds and one penalty in the final shooting by Horn. “That’s just bad, not hitting five targets with eight shots,” said Horn. He wanted to be annoyed for an hour, but then look forward again: “That wasn’t the last season and we’ll definitely do it even better.”

Horn: “Not what we plan to do”

After 4 x 7.5 kilometers, the quartet was 2:03.9 minutes behind the dominant winner France. Olympic champion Norway took second place ahead of world champion Sweden. Most recently, Germany did not make it into the top three in the World Cup at the season finale in spring 2022, also in Kontiolahti. However, the team remained without a medal at the 2024 and 2023 World Championships.

“I’m really disappointed,” said the Thuringian Horn: “We’ve now had two relays behind us, we came in fourth place twice. That’s just not what we’re aiming for as German relay teams.”

He had already missed the podium with the mixed relay on Saturday. Debutant Danilo Riethmüller scored a penalty, Johanna Puff and Franziska Preuß were also there. Previously, Voigt and Strelow had impressed when Sweden won third place in the non-Olympic single mixed.

The second week of competition continues on Tuesday (4.20 p.m./ARD and Eurosport) in the men’s singles, followed a day later by the women’s singles. Sprints and mass starts are also on the program until next Sunday.