Keep Your Eyes on… Vittozzi, Perrot, Simon, Botn, Hettich-Walz and Strelow at Loop One
It’s five weeks before the LaVita IBU World Cup Biathlon season kicks off in Kontiolahti. This weekend, it is time “to start your engines” with some of the biggest names on the starting line at the Loop One Festival in Munich’s Olympiapark.
The field is once again deep, with defending champions Lisa Vittozzi and Eric Perrot, plus Julia Simon, Johan-Olav Smoerdal Botn, Janina Hettich-Walz, and Justus Strelow all likely to battle for the podium in Saturday and Sunday’s Mass Starts.
Training is still ongoing, so keep in mind that no one is coming into these kickoff competitions in top shape, so anything can happen.
Rollerski Ace Vittozzi
Olympic Pursuit Gold medallist Vittozzi’s hotly-contested Loop One victory last year added to her legacy as a winner in rollerski competitions. She is simply an ace on rollerskis with wins at Blink, Dresden, the Martin Fourcade Nordic Festival and multiple Italian summer titles over the years. When it comes to the range, Vittozzi’s nerves of steel deliver 90% shooting. Don’t be surprised to see her atop the podium.
Ferocious competitor Perrot
Perrot, after winning the French Sprint title last month, said “I feel I have taken another step forward and think I am better than last year.” Based on that weekend’s Sprint/Pursuit double, the 2026 World Cup Total Score winner, with 11 podiums in four-stage competitions last winter, is the man to watch.
The ferociously competitive Perrot can bury his rivals on the tracks and then outshoot them blindingly fast, especially in standing.
Fast-finishing Simon
Like Vittozzi, Simon won an individual Olympic Gold medal, also anchoring the French Mixed and Women’s Relay to Gold. The French star comes to Munich rounding into shape. After a disappointing fifth in the Sprint at the French Championships, she roared back with a clean-shooting second place in the Pursuit. “Getting a perfect 20-for-20 is great; it validates the work this summer.” The fast-finishing Simon is perfectly capable of giving Vittozzi a tussle for the win.
Botn on the Rise
Botn became one of the biggest rising stars last winter, wearing Yellow in December, winning the Olympic 20 km Individual title. He closed the season topping Perrot while winning the Oslo Mass Start, finishing 3rd in the Total Score in his first full World Cup season.
Recently he won twice at the Norwegian Championships, also taking the Estonian Sprint in Otepää. Botn could easily be battling Perrot in the last shooting stages this weekend.
Hettich-Walz Ready
With a full year of training after her pregnancy pause, Hettich-Walz seems ready for a big season. She hat-tricked the German Championships in September, shooting 90% in the three competitions. A few weeks earlier, she was 4th,10 seconds behind Vittozzi at Dresden, showing good track speed. Hettich-Walz should give the German fans a reason to cheer.
Strelow Competitive on Rollerskis
Strelow must be on everyone’s watch list because he is always very competitive in these big rollerski competitions. Last year, he finished third at Loop One with a single penalty. This August, he left Perrot behind at City Biathlon Dresden, shooting at his usual 90% clip. With a four-stage format and reasonably easy track similar to Dresden, Strelow will be ready for any shooting range showdown.
Wild Cards Hofer and Vobornikova
These hyper-competitive competitions will likely be dominated by these six, but don’t count out the veteran Lukas Hofer, third at Dresden and more-so, Olympic Bronze medallist Tereza Vobornikova. Vobornikova, filled with confidence ever since Milano Cortina, won Dresden and a couple of weeks ago, won Czechia’s Summer Pursuit title after Silver in the Sprint.
Photos: IBU/ Yevenko, Nordic Focus/ Authamayou
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