Biathlon competitions at the IBU Open European Championships at Raubichi - Minsk will be an intriguing mix of world champions, Olympic champions, junior world champions and seasoned IBU Cup athletes looking for different things: final sharpening for the IBU World Championships in Östersund, winning trophies, or starting to accumulate experience against stronger athletes.

In Need of Competition

Tarjei Boe is the only active biathlete among men other than Martin Fourcade of France who has won the World Cup Total Score title. The two-time world champion finished in Top 6 four times this season with second place ion the 12.5 km pursuit at the BMW IBU World Cup 5 in Ruhpolding, Germany being his highlight of the season after Trimesters 1 and 2. The Norwegian veteran decided to skip BMW IBU World Cup weeks 7 and 8 in order to train at home and focus on the IBU World Championships in Östersund. Instead of the trip to North America, he is competing at the IBU OECH to test his form in a very competitive environment.

“I definitely need competitions before IBU World Championships,” Boe commented after today’s training. “It is one thing to train; I trained very well after Antholz and a completely different thing to put a bib on and compete. The level in the IBU Cup is normally very high, I think a Top 6 finish at the BMW IBU World Cup level brings you a win at the IBU Cup level. The field here is much stronger than usual at the IBU Cup so I can not think of a better place to test of my form than here.”

First Experience

For Martin Bourgeois Republique competing at the IBU OECH is a new experience. Still fresh from winning individual Gold  at the IBU Youth/Junior World Championships in Osrblie, Slovakia, he is eager to see how his biathlon technique and power compare to older and more experienced athletes.

“It is amazing to suddenly be in the company of the athletes who have already achieved so much. The BU Cup level is very high for me it is first time. I hope to perform well.”

Last Test for Swedish Relay Teams

Wildly successful Swedish Head Coach Wolfgang Pichler also sees a lot of value in this year’s IBU Open European Championships. Medalists from the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games Hana Oeberg and Sebastian Samuelsson will be testing their form but also leading Swedish women’s and men’s relay into a last test before Östersund competitions.

Pichler explained, “We have built a very strong sense of team spirit in this generation of biathletes in Sweden, We are certainly hoping for a medal or two in the relays in Oestersund. Testing both teams here  is a vital part of our plans for this season. Whereas we can not claim we are a big biathlon nation (yet) we feel strong in relay.”

Tomorrow will also be a highly important day for Yuliia Zhuravok of Ukraine, Elisabeth Hoegberg of Sweden and Nadine Horchler of Germany in  deciding who will win IBU Cup Individual Score.

Photos: IBU/Denis Kostuchenko