17.02.2020 - Can Wierer strike again?
After a rest day on Monday the Biathlon World Championships in Anterselva will continue on Tuesday with the women's individual competition.
The best female biathletes in the world have to cover a total of 15 kilometres on their narrow cross-country skis and demonstrate their skills in the shooting range a total of four times (prone, standing, prone, standing). For each missed shot a penalty time of one minute is added to the running time.
Will Dorothea Wierer’s smile again beam from the top of the podium? Will superstar Marte Olsu Røiseland collect her fourth World Championships medal? Or will an outsider reach for the stars in the Südtirol Arena? These are the questions the women will have to answer on Tuesday from 2:15 pm.
During this winter season, there have so far been two individual competitions. In Östersund in Sweden, French athlete Justine Braisaz won the day, while Denise Hermmann from Germany succeeded in Pokljuka (Slovenia) at the “dress rehearsal” for the World Championships. Braisaz, who collected a total of 90 points in the two individual races, is also the current wearer of the red jersey ahead of the final individual competition of the winter 2019/20. Herrmann is in third place and only seven points behind.
Italy’s medal hopes rest not just on local athlete and overall World Cup leader Dorothea Wierer, who caused a real biathlon hype in her home country after triumphing in Sunday’s pursuit race. Wierer’s teammate Lisa Vittozzi is also a medal hopeful for the many Italian fans in the Südtirol Arena. The 25-year old from Sappada finished in 9th and 4th place in the individual races of the season. Her form is improving, and it is just possible that she will achieve her dream in this World Championship before her home crowd.
Sweden's Anna Öberg, the Ukrainian Yuliia Dzhima, Franziska Preuss from Germany or the Russian Larisa Kuklina are also good for a top result in the most traditional biathlon competition. Marte Olsbu Røiseland, who already collected three medals in the title fights in Anterselva (2 x Gold, 1 x Bronze), could expand her collection with a further top result. During the current World Cup, however, the Norwegian has not yet finished an individual competition in the top ten.
Much is unknown, but one thing is certain: Excitement right to end is assured in this sixth race for medals during the World Championships in Anterselva, the cradle of biathlon.
Will Dorothea Wierer’s smile again beam from the top of the podium? Will superstar Marte Olsu Røiseland collect her fourth World Championships medal? Or will an outsider reach for the stars in the Südtirol Arena? These are the questions the women will have to answer on Tuesday from 2:15 pm.
During this winter season, there have so far been two individual competitions. In Östersund in Sweden, French athlete Justine Braisaz won the day, while Denise Hermmann from Germany succeeded in Pokljuka (Slovenia) at the “dress rehearsal” for the World Championships. Braisaz, who collected a total of 90 points in the two individual races, is also the current wearer of the red jersey ahead of the final individual competition of the winter 2019/20. Herrmann is in third place and only seven points behind.
Italy’s medal hopes rest not just on local athlete and overall World Cup leader Dorothea Wierer, who caused a real biathlon hype in her home country after triumphing in Sunday’s pursuit race. Wierer’s teammate Lisa Vittozzi is also a medal hopeful for the many Italian fans in the Südtirol Arena. The 25-year old from Sappada finished in 9th and 4th place in the individual races of the season. Her form is improving, and it is just possible that she will achieve her dream in this World Championship before her home crowd.
Sweden's Anna Öberg, the Ukrainian Yuliia Dzhima, Franziska Preuss from Germany or the Russian Larisa Kuklina are also good for a top result in the most traditional biathlon competition. Marte Olsbu Røiseland, who already collected three medals in the title fights in Anterselva (2 x Gold, 1 x Bronze), could expand her collection with a further top result. During the current World Cup, however, the Norwegian has not yet finished an individual competition in the top ten.
Much is unknown, but one thing is certain: Excitement right to end is assured in this sixth race for medals during the World Championships in Anterselva, the cradle of biathlon.
