Big Guns or Surprise Packages: Intriguing Relays Kick Off Opening Weekend
The wait is almost over. In just over 48 hours, the Women’s 4 X 6 km relay will kick off the 2025/26 BMW IBU World Cup season in Oestersund, with the men following a few hours later; Sunday’s mixed relays will top off opening weekend.
Saturday: (CET) 13:15 Women’s 4 X 6 km Relay; 16:55 Men’s 4 X 7.5 km Relay
Sunday: 14:00 Single Mixed Relay (M+W); 16:40 Mixed Relay (M+W) It’s a little early to speculate about podium potential with few teams revealing their hand yet, but here are some interesting matchups.
Look for France, Sweden, and Germany in the Women’s Relay
France, Sweden and Germany all have the personnel to field top squads, but the favorite designation goes to the World Champions, France. Their deep squad includes sharpshooting Lou Jeanmonnot, Sprint World Champion Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Blue Bib titlist Oceane Michelon and runner-up Jeanne Richard; enough said. Sweden’s equally deep team is led by the Oeberg sisters, each of whom won season-openers in Idre Fjäll, the returning Linn Gestblom, and steady leadoff leg Anna Magnusson. Expect the Germans to challenge, led by Franziska Preuss who won twice last week in Obertilliach, and returnees Vaness Voigt and Janina Hettich-Walz in a hotly contested competition.
Norway/ France Tussle in Men’s Relay
Perpetual relay winners Norway goes head-to-head with the team that defeated them in all five World Cup relays last season. Yet, the Norwegians snatched the big prize: the World Championships Gold medal from Les Bleus. French Coach Simon Fourcade admits, “They were just better that day.” It looks like a grudge match to open the season: likely Sturla Holm Laegreid, Endre Stroemsheim and Co. against Eric Perrot, Emilien Jacquelin and Co. The steady Germans want a piece of this pie, as well as Sweden, the third and fourth placers in Lenzerheide.
Lots of Potential in Single Mixed Relay
This is always intriguing, wondering how teams will split their stars with the regular mixed relay a few hours later. The single mixed might take a back seat for France, Sweden, Norway and Germany who might want to go after the Mixed Relay. This opens the door for Finland with Tero Seppala/ Suvi Minkkinen, Austria with Simon Eder/Lisa Theresa Hauser, Switzerland with Aita Gasparin/ Niklas Hartweg or maybe a wild card like the USA with Campbell Wright and Deedra Irwin. Whoever lines up, the Single Mixed is always fun!
“Usual Suspects” Sweden, France, Norway, Italy in Mixed Relay
Fill in two men and two women for France: Perrot, Fillon Maillet, Jacquelin, Jeanmonnot, Braisaz-Bouchet, Michelon and you have a winner. Norway with Laegreid, Stroemsheim, Uldal, Tandrevold, Kirkeeide, Femsteinevik looks solid. Dorothea Wierer, Lisa Vittozzi, Tommy Giacomel and maybe Lukas Hofer is a competitive line-up. Still, it may all come down to Sweden’s “dream team” Hanna and Elvira Oeberg closing out after Martin Ponsiluoma and Sebastian Samuelsson in their home stadium on opening weekend.
It's going to be a fun last weekend in November regardless of who steps in the starting line on Saturday and Sunday! The clock is ticking!
Photos: IBU/Archive, Nordic Focus
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