Biathlon : two sprints without a penalty lap
The biathlon season was due to kick off this weekend in Idre Fjäll (Sweden), but the persistent mild weather has disrupted the programme. With insufficient snow, the Swedish organisers had to reduce the loop to two kilometres and adapt the format. A short individual race was scheduled for Saturday, but this has been replaced by a sprint.
“The temperatures have remained positive, so we haven’t been able to produce any snow. But we have what we need to guarantee that the races will take place,” explained Ulrika Oeberg, National Director of the Swedish Biathlon Federation, who is also responsible for the technical aspects of this first national leg, to Expressen.
Another consequence: no penalty round. Shooting errors will be penalised by a time penalty: 22 seconds for men, 25 for women.
“Today’s circuit is two kilometres long and it’s on this loop that we have to base ourselves. We felt that with a competition comprising many laps, there would be too many riders on the track at the same time”, explains Ulrika Oeberg.
Despite the precarious conditions, the races are still on. The Swedish, Italian and German biathletes will therefore launch their season this weekend in Idre Fjäll.
Read also
- Biathlon: Germany leaves for a two-week training camp in Idre Fjäll… except for Franziska Preuss, who will finish her preparation in Obertilliach
- Biathlon: the Swedish national team begins its final preparation camp on the snow of Idre Fjäll… without Linn Gestblom
- Biathlon | Scandinavia for the Italian stars: Lisa Vittozzi and Lukas Hofer go to Idre Fjäll then Östersund, Tommaso Giacomel and Dorothea Wierer to Geilo
