Biathlon: a day of short individual races in Pokljuka
This Thursday, the 2024/2025 Biathlon World Cup resumes in Pokljuka (Slovenia). At the Slovenian stadium, individual short races will be contested, with the start set for 11:30 for the women and 15:15 for the men.
The programme has been significantly altered from the original schedule due to the adverse weather conditions – a maelstrom of wind, heavy rain and high temperatures. In short, the day’s races will not be run in bright spring sunshine… even though there will be plenty at stake.
The main one will be the continuing battle for the big crystal globe: Franziska Preuss has a 36-point lead over Lou Jeanmonnot on the women’s side, while Johannes Thingnes Boe and Sturla Holm Lægreid are separated by just 5 points on the men’s side.
The 20 targets will have to be cleared… and the work of the technicians captured
So this individual short in Pokljuka represents the test of all dangers for the four contenders for the yellow bib. If it is not linked to another race, as will be the case with the sprint inOslo-Holmenkollen (Norway) next week, it can quickly become a nightmare.
We all remember Johannes Thingnes Boe’s 85th place in the individual event in Ruhpolding (Germany) in January. To shine and avoid falling into the trap, it will certainly be necessary, and quite logically, to clear the 20 targets in the Slovenian wind. That’s how Lou Jeanmonnot won the first two individual World Cup races this winter. The issue of waxing on a degraded piste will also be central.
To sum up, this long day of individual short races in Pokljuka could prove decisive in the race for the supreme trophy in world biathlon. All the more so, remember, as the conditions are set to be dantesque.
Biathlon World Cup overall rankings before Pokljuka
Men
Ladies
- The full programme for the Pokljuka World Cup, the eighth stage of the 2024/2025 season
- Corinne Niogret: my best memory of… Pokljuka
- Before Pokljuka, Lou Jeanmonnot moves back to within 36 points of Franziska Preuss in the overall standings
- Johannes Thingnes Boe takes the yellow bib… for 5 points
