Biathlon in Lenzerheide
Preuss and Co. At WM at WM: “Collect medals”
The start has succeeded, now it goes into the individual races. In four competitions in three days, Germany’s biathletes target the medals. Above all, one is one of the favorites.
The fact that it is just 700 meters from the bed to the World Cup shooting range is entirely according to the taste of Franziska Preuss. “In any case, this is very effective,” says Germany’s best biathlete. On Wednesday, the 30-year-old started the short way back from the Roland Arena in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, into the nearby team hotel with bronze. And if you go back to the accommodation on Friday (3:05 p.m./ZDF and Eurosport) after the sprint, it is best to belong to the next medal.
German team creates a feel -good atmosphere
“You can just go when you’re done, you never have to wait,” said Preuss to the short ways. The Germans chose accommodation very close to the World Cup stadium, can do without arrival by car and have to run for a maximum of ten minutes. With two of their own chefs, they created a feel-good atmosphere in front of the magnificent mountain panorama at 1400 meters, which is to inspire the eleven outstanding World Cup decisions. “It’s really nice to have a good start. I hope we have a few more good days,” said Prussia, which is leading in the overall World Cup.
Many people look at them especially these days. After ten podium in 14 seasonal races, two wins in singles and two more with the season, expectations are enormous. “After the race, I really felt how the pressure from me fell off,” said Preuss. Bronze with the mixed relay alongside Selina Grotian, Philipp Nawrath and the furiously shooting final runner Justus Strelow was exactly the start that the team had wanted. “I already classify the medal very high,” said Preuss.
Next goal: “Collect a few more medals”
But what changes the first badge in your pocket? “Everything that is still coming is certainly easier than winning the first medal,” said sports director Felix Bitterling. Before that, it had not been possible to create such a positive start since 2019. The relief was correspondingly great. “All competitions that are still coming now will certainly start with another mindset,” said Bitterling. And the Sachse Strelow added: “Hopefully now we’ll collect a few medals.”
While this will be an enormously difficult task for the men in the sprint on Saturday in the fight against the strong Norwegians and the French, the women are also Prussia and the 20-year-old Grotian two from the circle of those who need to be beaten. Top favorite is the French Lou JeanMonnot, who already won gold in mixed, but right behind it can be classified.
However, it has to increase when shooting. “A mistake happens quickly, but to be top in the individual races, that shouldn’t happen,” said Preuss, after two in her view, unnecessary loading in mixed. A good result is also particularly important because the residues in the sprint are also the residues in the chasing race on Sunday.
Preuss won her first World Cup medals ten years ago
Four days after her 21st birthday, Preuss had won her only single medal so far at a World Cup. Almost ten years after silver in the mass launch of CONTIOLAHI, the chance is now as big as it has not been for a long time. After an operation on the sinuses a year ago, she is finally symptom -free and is currently in the form of her life. Also in 2015, Preuss also won her only World Cup title with the season in Finland. Repeating that in Lenzerheide is also a big goal.
A look at the statistics shows the consistency of Prussia – but also the often lack of luck. A total of 13 top ten placements in the World Cup individual races can be found, at the World Championships 2020 in Antholz and in 2021 on the Pokljuka she made it to all eight starts and was never worse than eighth. Nevertheless, she only won a medal.
In Switzerland, Prussia seems focused and ready to make it up to the top when perhaps the last World Cup participation. So far, she has been through the winter without major illnesses, which had rarely existed in the past. She had already got used to the hard conditions in Lenzerheide with higher training sizes in autumn, even traveled to Switzerland and the upcoming Olympic town of Antholz to train independently. For these efforts, she wants to reward herself on Friday with the long-awaited return to the World Cup platform.
dpa
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
