All eyes are on the season's highlight, the Biathlon World Championships in their own country. Oberhof, Germany.
The start of preparations extends far into the summer, Oberhof shows its best side at the beginning of the championships. Snow, sun, perfectly prepared tracks and good-humored helpers.
It started already in the middle of the week, with the mixed relays. A first show of the nations and the hope to start as successful as possible into the two-week lasting world championship.
As so often, the favorites come from the far north, the Norwegians have already dominated the whole season, so there was little doubt that they can live up to their role as favorites. Even a penalty loop did not cause the strong Norwegians to waver. With an outstanding team performance the team around start skier Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, Marte Olsbu Roeiseland, Sturla Holm Laegreid and finish skier Johannes Thingnes Boe won. They won ahead of the Italian team and the French team.
After a day of rest and training the women started with the sprint in the individual races. Here the German Denise Hermann-Wick showed a strong run and won in the end with a faultless performance at the shooting range. Close behind Denise was the Swedish Hannah Oeberg, who was also flawless. The podium was rounded off by team mate Linn Persson. The strong fourth place went to Marte Olsbu Roeiseland.
The following day, it was off to the track for the men. Thick fog and poor visibility did not make it easy for the jury. However, after many discussions, the race could take place as planned. During the race the visibility changed partly, but on the whole the conditions were fair.
As so often, one is at the top and could be crowned world champion in the fog. Johannes Thingnes Boe was the fastest in the track, missed only once at the shooting range and won with 15 seconds ahead of his brother Tarjei Boe. Sturla Holm Laegreid made the Norwegian podium perfect.
The sprint was followed by the chaser. Julia Simon from France is known for her ability to lead the field especially in the last attack with a fast shooting sequence. She showed this also in the pursuit race after she came to the last shooting with the leader Denise Hermann - Wick after three faultless shootings. Simon made one mistake, but shot quickly and went into the final round with a lead of more than 20 seconds. Hermann even missed two targets. Julia Simon was able to defend her lead clearly until the finish and won ahead of Denise Hermann - Wick. Third went to Marte Olsbu Roeiseland from Norway.
Following the women's race, the men started their chase of Johannes Boe. But Boe didn't give his competitors even a hint of a chance. Most of the time he had already left the shooting range before the competitors arrived. He crossed the finish line after faultless shooting with a lead of 1.15minute. Fellow countryman Laegreid also finished second with a 100% hit performance. Third place went to Swede Sebastian Samuelsson. Samuelsson was able to relegate Norwegian Tarjei Boe to fourth place in a sprint to the finish.
After two days of rest, the race continues on Tuesday, 14.02.23 with the men's individual race over 20 kilometers.
Image K.Voigt photography