The coaches who are in the trenches every day, closest to their athletes, and watching their top rivals have a unique insight into biathlon.

Five veteran coaches shared their opinions on who will dominate the new season, as well as their own team’s prospects: Johannes Lukas, Sweden Head Coach; Sverre Olsbu Roeiseland, German Women’s Head Coach; Simon Fourcade, French Men’s Head Coach; Uros Velepec, Poland Men’s Head Coach; Siegfreid Mazet, Norway Men’s Shooting Coach.

Who is the biggest threat to beat Sturla Holm Laegreid for the World Cup Total Score title?

Lukas: I hope there is a Swedish guy, first Sebastian Samuelsson but also Martin Ponsiluoma. These guys could make it a hard season for Sturla.

Roeiseland: Some other Norwegians are able, but Laegreid is really stable. For the future, Isaak Frey is one of the guys, but not this year. As for one guy, it is Eric Perrot.

Fourcade: I think the biggest threat stopped his career last year! JT Boe’s retirement opened the door for many athletes, including French that now think, ‘I can win it.’

Velepec: Perrot is the guy who can win it all. He is a brilliant runner, fast shooter, he is very stable. Laegreid is now defending and that is 100% harder than attacking like he was doing with Johannes.

Mazet: Right now, I see it is Perrot, Tommy Giacomel. and one of the Norwegians. From what I’ve seen, Vebjoern (Soerum, before recent troubles in Geilo) can be a tough guy and possibly Samuelsson who has been very unstable in shooting could provide a surprise. Still Perrot is the biggest threat.

Top 3 Men

JL: Laegreid, Samuelsson and Perrot, not in order. SR: Laegreid, Perrot, and Sebbe. SF: Perrot, Quentin Fillon Maillet and Laegreid, if top five, Emilien Jacquelin and Fabien Claude. UV: Perrot, Samuelsson and I would say Martin Uldal before Laegreid. SM: Laegreid, Perrot, Giacomel, and an unnamed Norwegian.

If Franziska Preuss shoots like she did last season and stays healthy, will she win the Women’s Total Score?

JL: Yes, hard to beat.

SR: For sure, she had some more problems this year with the finger, but she has done a good job with training. Her main focus is the Olympics. I know she can have the same or even better season than last year. I have big respect for Lou (Jeanmonnot), in my eyes, she and Franzi were both winners last year.

SF: I think it will be a tough fight with the French; one particularly wants to get something off her shoulders and get the Total Score.

UV: I think she can if she races the whole season. She is a little fragile; if sick a little bit, will skip a race. That is the only threat for her to miss points. She can defend.

SM: Yes, I think she can. Jeanmonnot is very stable and gained great experience fighting for the Yellow Bib last year and Franzi knows that. When you have a strong opponent, then you get better yourself when you respect them. I think there is some respect between Franzi and Jeanmonnot. I hope Lisa Vittozzi will be the third woman which will make biathlon even more interesting.

Top 3 Women

JL: Oeberg (not saying which one), Preuss, and Vittozzi. SR: Preuss, Jeanmonnot, Vittozzi and of course, a Swede like Elvira Oeberg. SF: Not in Order: Preuss, Jeanmonnot, Oceane Michelon. UV: Preuss, then French women 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th! I can see Vittozzi and the Swedish Oeberg sisters. The top five women is very hard to pick. SM: Preuss, Jeanmonnot and Vittozzi.

Rising star of the season?

JL: Frey, Selina Grotian

SR: Under 25, Grotian, Julia Tannheimer, Perrot, no question.

SF: It could be Perrot, but if not him, Uldal is quite impressive. For the women, Michelon.

UV: Probably Frey who shoots very well. I would like to see one of my boys like Grzegorz Galica or Konrad Badacz in the Blue Bib battle.

SM: I think Frey will create some surprises; he is a real biathlete, good physically with good strategy on the range. He has knowledge some others may not get for four or five years, very mature for his age. Johannes Thingnes Boe and Martin Fourcade were both like this. Michelon is in the same situation. I do not know her at all, but her name was the first I thought of.

What is the key for your team to have a successful season?

JL: Stay healthy!

SR: Stay healthy, stay focused on performance and not too much on results.

SF: Having a good start will help for sure. After that as it often is, to have confidence and trust in the work that was done to get the best performances. Having a good start is a good advantage!

UV: Patience is the key. You have to understand that our best athlete was 57th in the Total Score last year; a solid steady group but young. We want to move to top 40 and maybe on a good day, some top 20 results and a top 10 in relays.

SM: The key is once we come into the season, we will try to make good results and surf on them. Maybe not in Oestersund, because it is the first World Cup and a tough one; we know the Swedes will be ready there. We will make our mark there but will create rhythm in Hochfilzen. That is the surf metaphor: when the wave is coming, you take it in the right moment, not too early or late. I want us to be immediately in the game. Catch the wave and ride it!

Those are some thoughts from a group of very experienced coaches, now let’s see how this all unfolds when the action starts next Saturday!

Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni, Nordic Focus, Svenskt Skidskytte