Biathlon World Cup: Bö sits over all – debacle for German biathletes

Superstar Johannes Thingnes Bö crown himself in his last World Cup sprint to the sole record world champion, the German biathletes experienced a debacle in Lenzerheide at the start of the individual competitions. “This is very emotional for me, that was a big goal of mine,” said Bö on ZDF. In the 21st World Cup title of the 31-year-old Norwegian and the sensational silver of the American Campell Wright, Philipp Nawrath was 18th place in the disappointing place.

In the end there were places 30 for Justus Strelow, 40 for Danilo Riethmüller and 44 for Philipp Horn. This means that the chances of the DSV quartet for the persecution on Sunday are almost hopeless.

“It was too far away for the medals today,” said Nawrath. The feeling was good, the conditions were also right. But then there were two mistakes in standing shooting. Now it is important to tick off, said the 32-year-old. But a gap of 1: 26.0 minutes and four shooting deposits do not give great hope.

Bö remains the greatest – German not competitive

The New Zealand, who was born, also without a mistake, was 27.7 seconds behind Bö, third was the Frenchman Quentin Fillon Maillet (1 error/+ 37 seconds). “I went all in today and it worked,” said Wright on ZDF.

The error -free and outstanding Böi replaced his compatriot Ole Einar Björndalen as a record champion and is also the top favorite in the hunting race. “He is a legend. If he continued if he had broken all my records,” said Björndalen on ZDF. Bö surprisingly ends his career after this season.

Unlike Bö, the Germans once again failed the nerves at the shooting range. A total of ten errors added up at the DSV quartet, so that the attack on the top ranges was far away.

The fall of Strelow in the penalty round was also symbolical for the performance, which has not yet been seen. Strelow left it as the best German shooter in the event of a mistake, but after ten kilometers it was 1: 53.4 minutes behind the winner. “I am threaded in a gang, that’s a stupid mistake. The adrenaline shoots in and the thighs become twice as thick,” said the 28-year-old, who was still the bronze medal at the start of the mixed season as the final runner had secured the rushing Bö.

After a successful World Cup general rehearsal comes bitter disappointment

During the World Cup general rehearsal a year ago in the canton of Graubünden, Benedikt Doll, who had now resigned, won the sprint, Nawrath had finished third ahead of Philipp Horn. But the good omen brought nothing. As so often, all hopes are destroyed at the shooting range this season.

“I don’t really know what happened. I really wanted to, I love this route and thought that today is my day. I thought that until I was going to stay,” said Horn (4/+ 2: 17.2 minutes) . He shot out with three lying errors. WM debutant Riethmüller goes into the hunting race after three mistakes even with over two minutes behind. He immediately put his first three shot next to it. At the end of December, the 25-year-old was even second in the mass start of Le Grand-Bornand.

Result symbol for the course of the season

So far, the German men have experienced a difficult winter primarily due to fluctuating shooting performance. While there were already victories in the women by Franziska Preuss, Selina Grotian and the season, their balance sheet is significantly weaker. In the individual races, only Nawrath and Riethmüller once made it onto the podium before the World Cup, and there was no triumph in the season after the resignation of Benedikt Doll. It was also Doll who won the only men’s medal at the 2024 World Cup with bronze. “The World Cup takes a few more days,” said sports director Felix Bitterling slogans.