21.01.2022 - Two races on saturday in Antholz
After the victories of Russian Anton Babikov and French Justine Braisaz-Bouchet in the individual races, the Biathlon World Cup in the Antholz Südtirol Arena will continue on Saturday with the mass start of the men and the women's relay.
The men’s 15-km mass start kicks off at 12:50. French biathlete Emilien Jacquelin currently leads the discipline ranking, but he will be out for the rest of the weekend. The 26-year-old from Grenoble won the so far only mass start in his home race in Annecy, ahead of teammate Quentin Fillon Maillet. The overall World Cup leader will be particularly motivated this time, after the messed-up individual start on Thursday (20th place).
Lukas Hofer will be the only South Tyrolean in the mass start. The individual performance of this athlete from Mantana was poor and he missed at total of six targets. In the end he was only good enough for 43rd place, but he still managed to qualify for the mass start and will represent Italy together with Thomas Bormolini. There is much excitement about the performance of Russian Anton Babikov. The 30 year old from Moscow celebrated his second World Cup victory ever in the individual race (he won the first one in 2016 in the pursuit in Östersund). If Babikov continues to perform flawlessly, he will certainly be one of the secret favourites in the mass start. The high-performing Norwegian brothers Tarjei and Johannes Thingnes Bø are also serious contenders for podium places, as are Sturla Holm Laegreid and Russian Alexandr Loginov.
In the women’s relay, it will be all about pursuing the French biathletes
The women's relay event over 4x6 km with prone and standing shooting will start at 15:00. On paper, France are the top favourites here. The "Grande Nation" has stood on the podium in all three relay races held so far. The French athletes won the first World Cup stage in Östersund and the last one in Ruhpolding, while they finished third in Hochfilzen. The Swedish team also won podium places every time this year, but now has to compete without the two Öberg sisters, Elvira and Hanna. Russia and Belarus are also hoping for a good result. An exciting head-to-head race is guaranteed.
In addition to France, Russia and Belarus, Norway too could be a contender for Gold, Silver or Bronze. The Scandinavians have to manage without the overall World Cup leader Marte Olsbu Røiseland, but they still have enough individual class. The Italian performances this winter have not yet been enough for podium places for the host nation, but Dorothea Wierer and teammates want to change that in their home race.
Lukas Hofer will be the only South Tyrolean in the mass start. The individual performance of this athlete from Mantana was poor and he missed at total of six targets. In the end he was only good enough for 43rd place, but he still managed to qualify for the mass start and will represent Italy together with Thomas Bormolini. There is much excitement about the performance of Russian Anton Babikov. The 30 year old from Moscow celebrated his second World Cup victory ever in the individual race (he won the first one in 2016 in the pursuit in Östersund). If Babikov continues to perform flawlessly, he will certainly be one of the secret favourites in the mass start. The high-performing Norwegian brothers Tarjei and Johannes Thingnes Bø are also serious contenders for podium places, as are Sturla Holm Laegreid and Russian Alexandr Loginov.
In the women’s relay, it will be all about pursuing the French biathletes
The women's relay event over 4x6 km with prone and standing shooting will start at 15:00. On paper, France are the top favourites here. The "Grande Nation" has stood on the podium in all three relay races held so far. The French athletes won the first World Cup stage in Östersund and the last one in Ruhpolding, while they finished third in Hochfilzen. The Swedish team also won podium places every time this year, but now has to compete without the two Öberg sisters, Elvira and Hanna. Russia and Belarus are also hoping for a good result. An exciting head-to-head race is guaranteed.
In addition to France, Russia and Belarus, Norway too could be a contender for Gold, Silver or Bronze. The Scandinavians have to manage without the overall World Cup leader Marte Olsbu Røiseland, but they still have enough individual class. The Italian performances this winter have not yet been enough for podium places for the host nation, but Dorothea Wierer and teammates want to change that in their home race.
