Biathletes will conclude the IBU World Championships Biathlon 2021 Pokljuka with two individual events. Both mass start races – women’s and men’s – are on the programme. The women’s race is scheduled for 12.30 a.m. and the men’s for 3.15 p.m.
These are races with short running laps and four shootings, which promise the tension and the possibility of changes in the lead until the last shooting stop.
The favourites are known, but four shootings are a trap that often shifts the order. The season revealed that French Julia Simon, who won the last races in January in Oberhof and Anterselva could be the favourite in terms of her performances in Pokljuka. The opening in Hochfilzen was won by Norwegian Marta Olsbu Roeiseland.
Also on the podium this year were Franziska Preuss from Germany, Dorothea Wierer from Italy, Hanna Oeberg from Sweden, Lisa Theresa Hauser from Austria and Tiril Eckhoff from Norway, who has already won two individual titles in Pokljuka. However, other medallists from Pokljuka 2021, French Anais Chevalier Bouchet, Belarusian Hanna Sola, Czech Marketa Davidova and Norwegian Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold can certainly be added among the candidates for the highest places.
Among male biathletes, the competition is even fiercer. Johannes Thingnes Boe, the leading competitor in the World Cup and the World Champion from Anterselva, will defend the title, he, however, does not yet have an individual gold medal at this World Championships. Boe also won the last race before Pokljuka in Anterselva, where he was followed by French Quentin Fillon Maillet and Slovene Jakov Fak.
Tarjei Boe and German Arnd Peiffer, who celebrated in Oberhof and Hochfilzen, are also among the candidates for the highest places. Sweden’s Martin Ponsiluoma, Switzerland’s Benjamin Weger and Austria’s Felix Leitner were also on the podium. To all of the above, Sturla Holm Laegreid, French Emilien Jacquelin and Simon Desthieux, Swede Sebastien Samuelson and Italian Lukas Hofer are among the favourites. However, there are quite a few who are waiting for a surprise in both events.
The last race of the championships will be in the forefront of Slovenian fans, as after a series of very good results at the World Cup, Miha Dovžan will also start in this race for the first time.
WOMEN
|
12,5 km Mass Start |
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|
Date |
Place |
Winner |
Second |
Third |
|
20 December 2020 |
Hochfilzen |
Marte Olsbu Roeiseland |
Tiril Eckhoff |
Dorothea Wierer |
|
17 January 2021 |
Oberhof |
Julia Simon |
Franziska Preuss |
Hanna Öberg |
|
23 January 2021 |
Antholz-Anterselva |
Julia Simon |
Hanna Öberg |
Lisa Theresa Hauser |
|
World Championships 2020 |
Antholz-Anterselva |
Marte Olsbu Roeiseland |
Dorothea Wierer |
Hanna Öberg |
MEN
|
15 km Mass Start |
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|
Date |
Place |
Winner |
Second |
Third |
|
20 December 2020 |
Hochfilzen |
Arnd Peiffer |
Martin Ponsiluoma |
Tarjei Boe |
|
17 January 2021 |
Oberhof |
Tarjei Boe |
Felix Leitner |
Benjamin Weger |
|
24 January 2021 |
Antholz-Anterselva |
Johannes Thingnes Boe |
Quentin Fillon Maillet |
Jakov Fak |
|
World Championships 2020 |
Antholz-Anterselva |
Johannes Thingnes Boe |
Quentin Fillon Maillet |
Émilien Jacquelin |