Biathlon: Uros Velepec throws in the towel
This Tuesday afternoon, theGerman Ski Association announced the departure with immediate effect of Uros Velepec, the head coach of the men’s biathlon team. This is not a sacking, but a resignation, as the DSV reveals that he has asked to be relieved of his duties.
“After discussions based on trust, Uros Velepec and the DSV sports management agreed to use the remaining three weeks of the World Cup to lay the groundwork for the forthcoming Olympic season,” it added. The 58-year-old Slovenian has been replaced by Tobias Reiter.
“It’s not a spontaneous decision and has little to do with our results at the World Championships, even though we had of course all planned to do better in Lenzerheide, explained Uros Velepec in a statement. Overall, we’re simply not at the level we wanted to be. Given enough time, we would certainly be able to pull ourselves together out of the difficult situation we currently find ourselves in, but as head coach, I also see myself as responsible in the short and medium term. That’s why I’ve come to the conclusion that we now need a new impetus, perhaps also a new form of discourse, if we are to succeed in the run-up to the 2026 Olympic Games. The sooner the better. That’s why I proposed not waiting any longer. We now need to ensure that the work we’ve done over the last few years bears fruit next winter. That’s what I want for the team after I leave.”
Felix Bitterling, the German biathlon boss, was keen to pay tribute to his resigning head coach: “The fact that he has chosen to leave at this point in the season is of course unusual, but Uros [Velepec] explained his motives to us during a lengthy interview. The next three weeks are definitely important for the dynamics of the team. That’s why we’ve decided to grant his request and release him.”
