Goal is to Make the World Cup Team

Of course, athletes from countries like Russia, Germany or Norway fight for victory as only with good results in  biathlon’s “second division,” do they stand a chance to make the World Cup roster and  start at one of the more important, more glamorous, and even more competitive events.

The Russian women Vilukhina and Ekaterina Yurlova, who finished fourth, confirmed that the IBU Cup is very important for their team. “If we are on the top here we might soon be able to start in the World Cup, maybe after Christmas.” Juliane Döll said something similar after her victory on Saturday.

Austrian Women Qualify Relay Team

For many athletes these first competitions are important for a very different reason, the need to qualify for the World Cup. This means that they have to finish with a time that is a maximum of 20 percent slower than the average time of the three top athletes. The Austrian women managed to do this, and more importantly for the team, they are now eligible to participate in the Relay.

To others, like Bauer, Sunday’s Sprint victor, or Anastasiya Kuzmina from Slovakia who was second in Saturday’s Sprint, these competitions are a good training ahead of Östersund. However, for Bauer, winning was something more. “The victory here gives me self-confidence. It shows, that the hard work over the summer paid off…I started completely new with the shooting and also have a new coach.”

New Developments at IBU Cup

There were many World Cup athletes competing at this IBU Cup. There will not be as many during the season but there will be people who step up to the World Cup level and some athletes who will have to take a step back. In order not to let the gap between the two main IBU circuits get too wide, there are some new developments at the IBU Cup. For the first time, there will be anti-doping tests conducted at that level. The athletes will also be able to profit from something the World Cup athletes have enjoyed for some time now, the athlete’s café, an internet café for the athletes and teams.

“This is very good, to be able to chat with friends and family for free,” explained Igor Tabola from Belarus. While most athletes nowadays travel with their own laptop, not all hotels offer free internet. “We sometimes spend 20 or 30 Euros per person for internet at one location in order to stay in contact with home,” Tabola adds. Vincent Naveau from Belgium agrees: “If you have a few minutes before or after the competition and have to wait for your teammates it gives you something to do and you keep in touch with what’s going on in the world.” In addition, most Organizing Committees try to provide better services every year.

Everyone was happy at the end of the first IBU Cup of the season. “I want to thank the Organizing Committee for the great cooperation,” commented the IBU Technical Delegate Ubaldo Prucker. Ventzeslav Iliev, Race Director at the IBU-Cups, added: “For the second time Idre organized a very good IBU Cup.”