Felix Bitterling is focusing on Olympic qualification before the Biathlon World Cup in Ruhpolding. Some athletes need to deliver.
Biathlon Sports Director Felix Bitterling has put the Olympic Games in focus ahead of the home World Cup in Ruhpolding.
In the races from Wednesday to Sunday, the German team will be “under special observation with regard to the still open Olympic qualifications.”
The goal is for “the athletes who have not yet met the norm to present themselves again in Ruhpolding and recommend themselves for the Olympic team,” said Bitterling.
Additionally, they want to “gather further energy and self-confidence” for Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (February 6 to 22).
Grotian under pressure
Among the women, Franziska Preuß, Janina Hettich-Walz, Julia Tannheimer, Vanessa Voigt, and Anna Weidel have already met the Olympic norm – either once in the top 8 or twice in the top 15.
Selina Grotian, who won two medals at last year’s World Championships, is, however, under pressure. The 21-year-old still needs to qualify after a long illness break.
Among the men, so far only Philipp Nawrath, Justus Strelow, and Philipp Horn have secured their Olympic start, with David Zobel halfway there.
Horn still out
In Ruhpolding, Lucas Fratzscher, Danilo Riethmüller, and Johannes Kühn can also recommend themselves. Horn is absent from the Chiemgau Arena, as he was in Oberhof, due to illness. “For him, the focus is now on complete regeneration to then resume training with a view to the World Cup in Nove Mesto,” said Bitterling.
Bitterling described the Ruhpolding World Cup as an “absolute highlight. We are taking a lot of momentum from Oberhof.” However, he added, “not everything went optimally for all athletes. It is now important to draw the right conclusions from that.”
On Wednesday (2:30 PM / ZDF and Eurosport), the World Cup starts with the women’s relay. The men’s relay (Thursday), the women’s sprint (Friday), and men’s sprint (Saturday), as well as the pursuits on Sunday, are also on the program.