PROFILE
For almost thirty years, the Bavarian town of Ruhpolding , located near the Austrian border, has been Germany's main biathlon center. Three world championships and countless stages of the World Cup took place here. Unlike the rest of Europe, Ruhpolding thoroughly stocked up snow. He walked without ceasing all the New Year and Christmas holidays.
POSTER
Mass start . The Antholz World Cup is just around the corner, and races with a common start this season will only debut. Such is the mysterious program of the stages of the World Cup. After Ruhpolding, the mass start will take place in Pokljuka. The main contenders for the victory are rightfully considered Olympic champions Michael Grice and Anna Karin Olofsson, as well as the owners of the small Crystal Globe in this discipline, Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and Martin Glagov. Particular attention is paid to the good form Russians Nikolai Kruglov, Ivan Cherezov, Dmitry Yaroshenko and Maxim Chudov.
CONFRONTATION
Russia against Germany. The traditional dispute between the two biathlon powers has become even more acute after the previous stage in Oberhof. The Germans, even in their native walls, could not interrupt the streak of failures in the relay races: they have not won a single victory this season. The last chance to correct the adverse statistics is provided by Ruhpolding. The main highlight of the program is the competition of male fours. The Russians will try for the third time to stop the formidable Bundestim.
A desperate struggle for leadership in the overall standings of the World Cup will also unfold on German routes. Yaroshenko and the restless Bjoerndalen, who, after the New Year, have forgotten how to shoot stably, step on Grisu's heels. In women, the owner of the yellow leadership jersey Andrea Henkel feels quite at ease. The pursuers - Olofsson and Grubben - are far from optimal shape, and flying, as if on wings, Magdalena Neuner is too unstable in shooting.
INTRIGUE
Michael Grice will compete for medals at home. In fact, Ruhpolding can be called the home arena of Grice with a stretch. The leader of this season was born in another tiny Bavarian town of Nesselwang. There he began to practice skiing and football, and at 11 he even became the top scorer of the local youth team. Michael currently lives in Ruhpolding; he is idolized and loved here. Naturally, in the presence of family and friends, Grice will try not to face the dirt and win the debut mass start, as well as the relay race, which the Germans have not yet submitted to. Grice is traditionally indifferent to sprint, considering this fleeting race a lottery.
LOSSES
Rafael Poiret and Sven Fisher. For various reasons, both greats will miss the upcoming stage. The four-time holder of the Crystal Globe, the Frenchman Poiret, devoted himself entirely to the family. In late January, his wife Liv-Gret should give birth to a second child. Rafael spends all his free time at home and trains in lightweight mode. According to the biathlete, there is a chance that he will perform in Ruhpolding, but only in the mass start. The two-time holder of the Crystal Globes German Fischer at the previous stage awkwardly fell on a slippery slope, received a painful shoulder injury and is now waiting for a verdict of doctors. Most likely, he will be disappointing. Prior to the World Cup, Sven risks being left without competitive practice.
QUOTE
“It was curious to watch our main rivals - the Germans. For them, such a defeat in their native land is a crushing blow. Head coach Frank Ulrich twitched, he went not his own. Local experts talk about mistakes in preparation. However, we’ll still hear about the Germans, ” Vladimir Alikin , the head coach of the Russian men's team, told in an interview to the All Sports sporting information agency how painfully the German biathletes were defeated at the fourth stage of the World Cup.
NUMERAL
0.1 grams. The hemoglobin level in blood was so symbolically exceeded by the captain of the Russian national team Sergei Rozhkov before the start of the pursuit race at the previous stage in Oberhof. Our biathlete was suspended from participation in the competition for five days, so as not to aggravate shaky health. In Ruhpolding, Rozhkov will miss the baton, but in the sprint he will compete for cup points.
Broadcast Schedule (Sport TV Channel)
January 10th
15.10, 20.50 Relay, women.
January 11th
15.10, 1.40 Relay, men.
January 12th
15.10 Sprint Women.
13th of January
16.10 Sprint, men.
January 14th
12.55 Mass start, women.
14.55 Mass start, men.