Justus Strelow proved with his victory at the City Biathlon in Dresden that he excels in city events. At the Loop One Festival, he aims to perform strongly again and fine-tune his form before the winter season. After winning a Mixed Relay bronze medal with the German team at the Olympic Winter Games Milano-Cortina 2026, Strelow now looks confidently toward the 2026/2027 LaVita World Cup season.

Biathlonworld (BW): Justus, the weeks until the start of winter are counting down. How satisfied are you with your preparation so far?

Justus Strelow (JS): So far, everything has gone well, thankfully. I’ve come through the summer healthy, which is the foundation for a good feeling going into winter. After the City Biathlon in Dresden and the German Championships at Notschrei, I now want to focus on getting back into race speed and increasing the intensity at the shooting range.

BW: What’s the energy like in the German team?

JS: We work together very well—both the athletes and the coaches. For the first time, we’re training in a larger group with World Cup and IBU Cup athletes. The younger athletes, who are training in this setup for the first time, are especially motivated. That helps the whole team. I think we have a good balance of individuality and team dynamics. Everyone brings their strengths, we understand each other well, and the communication is great.

BW: The win at the City Biathlon must have been a special highlight in your career. How did you experience that day?

JS: It was a truly wonderful experience. There were many people in the stadium whom I’ve known for years, and I could soak up the great atmosphere. Last year, I came up short in the final shooting against Eric Perrot and Quentin Fillon Maillet, but I learned from my mistakes and approached it more cleverly this year. Now, I’m looking forward to the Loop One Festival in October in Munich.

BW: What makes the Loop One Festival special for you?

JS: For me, the shooting range in Munich’s Olympic Park, right above the water, is truly extraordinary—there’s no more beautiful setting. Plus, the atmosphere last year was fantastic. I hope it will be the same this time.

BW: What athletic value do these city events hold for you?

JS: They’re high-calibre competitions that are often tactically demanding because the courses aren’t as challenging as in the World Cup. The Loop One Festival has the strongest field of competitors. Even the smallest mistake is punished there. I have to admit, I’m a bit nervous before the start, but I’m looking forward to competing against the top athletes. It’s fun to race against the best and serves as an early exclamation mark for the winter.

BW: Could you imagine such summer events becoming more frequent in the coming years—perhaps even as a race series, like the World Cup in winter?

JS: It’s clear that biathlon in the summer also attracts many fans, and they enjoy the races just as much as the athletes do. I definitely think such competitions are very appealing in the summer, and you could build a World Cup series around them. Whether the same athletes as in winter would participate remains to be seen.