WITHwas giving away Erik Lesser’s first individual podium in over a year with just one penalty on the last standing stage. But sixth place for the 33-year-old in the final pursuit race at the home World Cup in Ruhpolding on Sunday, as well as two second places in the relay and Benedikt Doll in the sprint, were a sign: Three weeks before the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, the German biathletes are in the right direction – and despite Johannes Kühn’s Corona case, confidence is increasing.
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“Today it was pure agony on the track. But my shape curve is pointing upwards towards the Olympics,” said Lesser, who, as one of six possible German Olympic drivers, collected arguments for the only four possible starting places. Doll, who finished 11th in the Chase after four penalties, also gained confidence in the sprint with his first clean shooting in two years. In addition, David Zobel finished tenth in the hunt, half the Olympic standard. Philipp Nawrath meanwhile underpinned his position as goalkeeper in the relay. However, Norway’s top stars, who were going to a training camp, were not present in Bavaria.
The women around the ailing Franziska Preuß, on the other hand, are still falling short of their expectations and also missed the hoped-for leap in performance in the Chiemgau Arena, which was empty due to the corona. Franziska Hildebrand (34), who has not yet qualified for the games, achieved the best results with 20th place in the pursuit and 17th place in the sprint. With the relay it was only enough for fourth place. “We still have to stay calm. We still have two weeks to prepare ourselves well,” said the sporting director for biathlon, Bernd Eisenbichler.
“It’s stressful”
Although they did a very good pre-season, the women’s results are not there. Medal hope Denise Herrmann, who skipped the pursuit in Ruhpolding with a view to Beijing and who will only compete in the mass start in the last races before the Olympics in Antholz on Thursday, still has too many weaknesses on the shooting range. Only in fourth place in the season, when Vanessa Hinz made a mistake, could she see an upward trend.
The hitherto weak Hinz improved in the pursuit by 34 places to rank 26 and thus had at least one sense of achievement. Vanessa Voigt shoots solidly, but cannot keep up with her running. However, it seems possible that Hildebrand will be allowed to travel to China as one of five German women without qualification.
After her corona infection and foot injury, Franziska Preuss is only now starting rehabilitation training and will also miss the World Cup in Antholz. “At the moment it’s not the case that she can think about competitions,” said women’s discipline coach Kristian Mehringer. She contested her last race on December 12th. It is still unclear whether Kühn, who also had to be quarantined because of a positive test, will return to the team in South Tyrol.
In general, the topic of Corona hovers above everything. “You’re very careful, it’s stressful,” said Doll, and Lesser added: “If you have to be in quarantine now, the Olympics are over.” As Kühn’s contact, Nawrath had to do four PCR tests during the Ruhpolding week , which did not let him run free in the sprint (41st). “I also met Franzi briefly. She doesn’t do well when you’re so isolated either. That’s bad, just not performance-enhancing,” said Nawrath. Eisenbichler said with regard to the 27-year-old, who was the best German until her injury: “We still have enough time. It’s possible, even if it’s not the best starting position.”
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