With Olympic nominations decided and Milano–Cortina 2026 rapidly approaching, Ivona Fialkova analyses the delicate balance between chasing World Cup points and peaking at the right moment. From the elite men’s trio and Lou Jeanmonnot’s consistency to the tactical challenges of Nove Mesto and Antholz, the former World Cup athlete offers an insider’s view on form, pressure, altitude, and Olympic decision-making.

The performances of Tommaso Giacomel, Eric Perrot, and Sebastian Samuelsson in Ruhpolding did not surprise me at all. Even before the season started, all three were among the favourites for the Total Score win. They are increasingly experienced, in very good form, and, most importantly, mentally strong athletes who know how to perform under pressure. After Ruhpolding they face a difficult decision: whether to race in Nove Mesto na Morave or skip it. No athlete can stay in peak shape from the end of November until the end of March. Some skipped Oberhof, others might skip Nove Mesto, and in the fight for the Total Score this can become very tricky because every race counts. Tommaso Giacomel has a particularly hard job as the overall leader, but I believe his main focus is the home Olympics. The tracks in Nove Mesto are demanding, often with heavy, deep, and wet snow, as well as some dangerous downhills. It is difficult to say whose style fits best, but depending on the conditions, Eric Perrot could be particularly well suited.

Lou Jeanmonnot had an outstanding week in Ruhpolding, and for me her consistency is no coincidence. She has been one of the fastest athletes on skis for several seasons now, and when an athlete feels strong on the skis, it immediately shows at the shooting range. Her shooting statistics are very high, and every successful race builds confidence. The more often you manage pressure well, the easier it becomes the next time. Hanna Oeberg also showed great form with a win and a second place. To keep this momentum, the most important thing is staying healthy. If an athlete remains healthy, peak form can usually be maintained for two to four weeks, depending on the individual. One athlete I have been especially impressed by this season is Suvi Minkkinen. She has been remarkably consistent and strong, particularly over the challenging weeks in Oberhof and Ruhpolding.

Looking ahead to Nove Mesto and then the Olympics, surprises are always possible. In Czechia we will have the Individual races, so strong shooters will have a clear advantage. If some top athletes skip the race to focus on Olympic preparation, opportunities could open up — even for athletes coming from the IBU Cup. At the Olympics, surprises are almost guaranteed. Athletes who arrive well prepared and already adapted to the altitude, especially those who live and train at higher elevations, will have an advantage. It is very hard to name just one potential surprise.

Coming from a smaller team like Slovakia has both advantages and disadvantages. The biggest advantage is definitely less pressure and less internal rivalry during qualification. The disadvantage is that top athletes do not always have training partners who can push them to their limits. It is also harder to simulate high pressure situations in training, and control races before the season do not always reflect the true level of competition.

My preparations for the Olympics in PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 were influenced mainly by the fact that both Games were held in Asia. We had to prepare for the time difference, local food, media pressure, different snow types, and very cold conditions. I would rather not go into the details of the COVID rules in Beijing.

In general, Olympic preparation differs from World Championships preparation because the Olympic venue is often unfamiliar. This time, however, AntholzAnterselva is a venue everyone knows very well, which makes this Olympic cycle quite unique.

My sister Paulina had a very strong week in Annecy–Le GrandBornand, and she already has ten World Cup podiums to her name. She is one of the fastest athletes in the world on skis, but as always in biathlon, it comes down to shooting. Sometimes everything depends on a single missed shot. Her chances are high, but honestly, the same can be said for many athletes in the women’s field. Paulina really enjoys contact races, so I would say her best Olympic chances are in the Pursuit or the Mass Start.

I achieved my own career-best result with sixth place in the Pursuit at the 2020 World Championships in Antholz-Anterselva. The track there looks easy, but it can be very tricky. Everything shows at the shooting range. My advice would be to choose the right speed — start carefully and increase the pace in the second half of the race.

Nove Mesto is about 1,000 metres lower than AntholzAnterselva, and there are only two weeks between Nove Mesto and the Olympics. Athletes who decided to race in Nove Mesto will not have much time for training afterward. Rest will be key, and it will be important to get to Antholz as quickly as possible so the body can begin to adapt. The altitude camps during the summer and autumn were crucial, as they allowed athletes to test their responses and identify critical adaptation phases. In Nove Mesto, the hardest part of the course is the opening section up to the famous tunnels, followed by a very short but steep climb, often with deep, compacted snow.

The shooting range is extremely loud, with many fans in the stands, and it is often windy. My advice is simple: do not let the atmosphere distract you, and try to choose shooting lanes at the beginning or the end of the range, where wind conditions are often more manageable.