• 24-year-old Renars Birkenthal achieved a career-best result this week, placing ninth in the 15-kilometer classic with two penalty minutes. Thus, he became the sixth Latvian to win the World Cup Top 10.
• For the first time, Birkenthal got the opportunity to compete in the mass start at the World Cup. 30 athletes are competing for the number 23 athlete, and he will start the track from the eighth row.
• If the men will start at 4:15 p.m., then the women will start at 7:15 p.m. Baiba Bendika is the second behind the line. Reserves will be able to participate if one of the top 30 does not start.
• The list of participants of the mass start is made up of the best overall World Cup standings, as well as the highest positions among the others in the given stage.
• On Saturday, Birkentāls and Bendika started together in the mixed pairs relay. Four penalty rounds and 21 spare cartridges – no duo had worse shooting – made the competition finish only in 18th place.
• The Nove Mesto stage is without several Norwegian national team stars due to preparations for the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The stage in the Czech Republic is the last before the Olympic starts.
• At the Olympic Games, biathlon will be held in Antholz. On February 10, men will compete in the 20-kilometer classic, a day later the women will compete in the 15-kilometer distance.
The sixth stage of the Biathlon World Cup in Nove Mesto
| The date | Time | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 22.01. | 19:15 | 15km shortened classic for men |
| 23.01. | 19:15 | 12.5km shortened classic for women |
| 24.01. | 14:15 | Pair relay |
| 16:10 | Mixed relay | |
| 25.01. | 16:15 | 15km mass start for men |
| 19:15 | 12.5km mass start for women |
