Germany’s Arnd Peiffer returns to the Experts’ Corner ahead of Oberhof – and tackles a burning question: Does it make sense to skip a World Cup stage to prepare for the Olympic Winter Games? Especially when you are doing well in the Total Score? He also tells who surprised him the most Trimester 1, and observes this season slightly enigmatic JT Boe.

What a fast-moving sequence of thrilling performances and breakthroughs Trimester 1 turned out to be! I was the most impressed with Elvira Oeberg and Emilien Jacquelin. The extraordinarily high level of skiing from Elvira week in, week out was fascinating to observe. She kept putting pressure on the rest of the field while getting a better composure on the shooting range herself. This combination brought her two victories in France and sent a strong message to everyone: Elvira is here to stay. As far as Jacquelin is concerned, I didn’t expect him to be this strong this early in the season after his wrist injury in August. An essential part of Emilien’s success in biathlon is his sudden bursts of attack, generated by his powerful and explosive arms, and he needs a strong wrists for that. That is how he broke the field early on in the mass start in Annecy Le Grand Bornand and won as those who tried to follow him just ran out of energy.

I also observed JT Boe with great interest in the first four weeks of the season. His performance was a bit enigmatic for me. His skiing power from the past seasons clearly wasn’t there. His prone shooting position looked improved compared to the last season, but his standing got wobbly at times. I wonder whether his main goal for the season is Beijing 2022, and he sees the Total Score title fight as too exhaustive? Or is perhaps his material not as good as it has been in the past seasons?

As Trimester 2 starts in Oberhof this week, teams will begin with the final preparations for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. We know that some might skip a week to prepare better for the high attitude competitions in China. For some, it makes sense to skip the week before Antholz-Anterselva and then take the week in South Tirol as the final test for Beijing. Some will skip Antholz. Some will push through. There are no rules as all comes down to the individual athlete’s body specifics and goals for the season.

The decision gets more complex within the Total Score battle context. The Norwegian team has four athletes who are still in contention for the Total Score win: Marte Olsbu Roeiseland is the leading woman, Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen is just 24 points behind the men’s leader Jacquelin, Tarjei Boe 51, and Johannes 61. To skip a week can seriously hinder their chances for triumph at the end of the season. I was never in the position where I would be in the fight for the Crystal globe and prepare for the Olympic Winter Games at the same time. It is difficult for me to say what I would have done. From today’s perspective, I would push through all the weeks and still try to have another peak of form at the Olympics.

There will, unfortunately, be no spectators for the second time running in Oberhof, but there is plenty to look forward to. Two weeks between Annecy Le Grand Bornand and Oberhof are long enough for athletes, who perhaps underperformed in Trimester 1, to rejuvenate, train and find a better form. JT Boe and Sturla Holm Laegreid, could return in better shape than they were in November and December. I wonder whether Elvira Oeberg and Sebastian Samuelsson will come back from the Christmas break as strong as they were in Sweden, Austria, and France?

Photo: IBU; C. Manzoni