Tobias Reiter is the National Coach of the Biathlon Men’s Team Since February. In an exclusive interview with Sport1, he talks about the upcoming season and his plans for the Olympics.
Even before the end of the past biathlon season, Tobias Reiter Took Over as National Coach for the Men From Uros Velepec. In winter, he Now Begins his first full season as head coach.
In an exclusive sport1 interview, the former biathlete talks about how he wants to bring the team back to olympic gold level, about promising young talents, the comparison to Julian Nagelsmann, and the deceased biathlete laura dahlmeier.
Tobias Reiter’s First Full Season AS National Coach Awaits
Sport1 : You are Entering Your first full season as head coach – how are you and what is your stress level like?
Tobias Reiter : I’m fine. My stress level is the same as it has been in Recent Years. It was that it is different, i what just in a different position. From that point of view, we are happy when the winter starts.
Sport1 : Last Year, Philipp Nawrath was the best German Male Biathlete in the Overall World Cup in 14th Place. That is not Quite the DSV’s standard, is it?
Reiter : of Course, We Always Want to Place our athletes as far ahead as possible, but i was still very surprised last year. We had Six athletes in the mass start at the last World Cup Race in Oslo. So it’s a very compact team, Everyone Can Finish in the Top Ten. Now, Ultimately, we need to get more guys into the top 10 places.
Rider Wants to Return to Gold Level for the Olympics
Sport1 : You are supposed to lead the team back to the top at the Olympics. Sporting Director Felix Bitterling Said You have a “Crystal Clear” plan. What does it look like Roughly?
Reiter : We Started very early to sit down with the boys – and develop the annual plan together with the athletes. That something about important step to take them along. And now we are trying to implement this plan Little by Little. We have Changed a Few Things at the shooting range, as well as in running. And then it is imported to Maintain the Common Thread Throughout the Summer.
Sport1 : You Mention Shooting, which Has Had Problems From Time To Time In The Past Season. Did you put extra focus on that again in the Summer?
Rider : Yes, We have tweaked a FEW Things. On the one hand, we did more shots under high intensity, which a bit of a problem last year. We have so individual allry adjusted and optimized the approach to the shooting range for the athletes – and so reduced the time spent at the shooting range a little. Instead, we focused more on the hits, going now you notice that with more confidence, the time at the shooting range automatically becomes Faster.
Reiter: “Obsessed with Concepts” Like Julian Nagelsmann
Sport1 : Felix Bitterling So Descred you as a “Concept Coach”. This is Known from Football, for example from Julian Nagelsmann. What does he mean by that in your case?
Rider : I am someeone who likes to plan very much and in great detail and present a concept. And that’s how we did it: We Developed a very detailed concept early on. Part of IT in the Coaching Team, Part of It With The Athletes Themelves. We now stick to this plan Every Day and Try to Implement This Concept. From that point of view, it is true that i am obsessed with concepts. Simply Because I am Convinced that if you first come up with something and are convinced of it, then you have to implement it very closely.
Sport1 : In Training Group 1a, We have Simon Kaiser (26 Years) and Danilo Riethmüller (25 Years), The Two Youngest athletes. Are you a little worried about the next generation?
Rider : Currently it definite looks Like that, but I’m not worried at all. We have pretty good guys who are in the B-Team and so in the C-Squad, and we have very good coaches in these teams. There is a lot going on there and I am Sure that we will see one or two young athletes in the world cup in the next few year, Because we have hard-working, disciplined, young guys and a good coaching team to go with it. And from that point of view, I am convinced that we will see one or Two in the next few year.
Simon Kaiser Had his first World Cup Appearance in 2024
Sport1 : is there anyone who gives you particular hop, or do you just have to wait and see who stand out?
Rider : I don’t think it’s a good idea to name names. That Puts Those Under Special Pressure. I wouldn’t do that. But we have a handful of real good guys and they all know that.
Rider on Laura Dahlmeier and Franziska Preuß
Sport1 : You were to assistant coach for the women some time ago, so you so know Franziska Preuss. She Became the Overall World Cup Winner Last Year, but she is still Missing the Olympic Individual Medal. What do you think she is capable of now in the position of the hunted?
Reiter : I don’t get much of it, but i have the impression that she is taking it very well and can deal with it well. And if she can get her mental attitude back to the way it was last what last year, nothing speaks against it. That she will have haven her successes again just like that.
Sport1 : There was a bit of a Stir Last Season about the New Starting Group Rules, But Less was Heard of It During the Season. The Aim was to Keep Biathlon Attractive – for TV Viewers. In your Opinion, does the Sport need changes to remain interests in the long term?
Rider : You Certainly Always Have to Make Sure that You Keep Up with the Times A Bit, The Show Must of Course Always Be Given for the Spectator. And the Biathlon Sport Has to Take Its Steps there. But i Believe that the ibu is very well positioned with good people to think ahead for the next five to ten years. Of course, you have to make suras that you keep up with the time, but i Think they Have Taken Quite Sensible Steps. It’s always about maintaining the sporting value, and i have the impression that that is the case.
Sport1 : At the End of July, Laura Dahlmeier Sadly Passed Away in A Tragic Way. You so knew her from early. When did you notice that there were a very special biathlete in your ranks?
Rider : You noticed that very early on. The Student Coaches Already Noticed That And In The Team, When I Joined, We Noticed It Immediately. She Simply Had the Gift of Immediately Implementing Things that she was Told. So she kept a Cool Head at the right moment and then intuitively did the right Things. It was clear very early on that she was a very good athlete.
Sport1 : is there a moment with her that you particularly like to remember?
Reiter : at the Olympics, Her Medal in the Last Lap of the Pursuit, Where Had Time to Look Out At Us Trainers On The Sidelines and Clap With Us. That is definitely a moment that you still Remember well.