Biathlon: men’s seventh place in the World Cup at stake this weekend in Sjusjøen
At the Norwegian biathlon opening races in Sjusjøen (Norway) at the end of the week, it won’t just be a question of whether the French are up to scratch with the local stars of the discipline two weeks before the start of the World Cup.
For the Norwegians, these competitions at the start of the winter are very important, as they will serve as selections. In the men’s World Cup, Johannes Thingnes Boe, Tarjei Boe, Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, Endre Stroemsheim and Sturla Holm Lægreid are already assured of their places thanks to their top-15 finishes last season.
The final ticket, won thanks to Mats Oeverby ‘s overall victory in the IBU Cup last winter, will now be decided on the snow of Sjusjøen. Vebjoern Soerum, Mats Oeverby, Johan-Olav Botn, Martin Nevland, Martin Uldal, Isak Frey, Filip Fjeld Andersen and Vetle Paulsen will all be vying for it.
Although he will be at the start, the returning Sivert Guttorm Bakken, according to the selection criteria document published by the Norwegian Biathlon Association, will not be eligible for this place, as he did not represent Norway at international level during the 2023/2024 season.
Who will join Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, Karoline Knotten and Juni Arnekleiv?
On the women’s side, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, Karoline Knotten and Juni Arnekleiv have already qualified for the World Cup in Kontiolahti (Finland). So there are three tickets up for grabs on Saturday and Sunday in the county of Innlandet.
And there will be plenty of them in the running: Marit Ishol Skogan, Ida Lien, Marthe Kraakstad Johansen, Aasne Skrede, Marrn Kirkeeide, Karoline Erdal, Emilie Kalkenberg, Jenny Enodd, Ragnhild Femsteinevik and Gro Randby.
The other competition at stake in Sjusjøen are the spots for the opening IBU Cup in Idre Fjäll (Sweden) scheduled for late November/early December. Firstly, Vebjoern Soerum, Johan-Olav Botn, Ida Lien and Marit Ishol Skogan are pre-qualified. So, on paper, there are four tickets up for grabs for men and women.
However, if one or more of the protected biathletes wins their place at the World Cup, more tickets will be available… which is very likely to happen.
The full programme of Norwegian opening races at Sjusjøen 🇳🇴
Thursday 14 November
- 17:00: team leaders’ meeting
Friday 15 November
- 9.00-11.00: Official ladies’ training
- 11.30am-1.30pm: official men’s training
Saturday 16th November
- 8.40am-9.35am: women’s shooting trials
- 9.45am: women’s 7.5km sprint
- 11.10am-12.05pm: Men’s shooting trials
- 12.15pm: Men’s 10km sprint
Sunday 17 November
- 10.00-10.30am: Men’s B race shooting trials
- 10.45am: men’s 80 15km mass-start (race B)
- 11.45am-12.15pm: Women’s shooting trials
- 12.30pm: women’s mass-start 40+40 12.5 km
- 13:30-14:00: Men’s A race shooting trial
- 2.15pm: men’s 15km mass-start (race A)
- The full programme of Norwegian opening races at Sjusjøen in which the French will be taking part
- “A real mouth-watering start to the season”: the day the French men’s team set off on their training camp in Sjusjøen
- “We already made this choice last year”: why the French women’s team decided to finish their preparations in Bessans and not in Sjusjøen with the boys.
- Dorothea Wierer and the Italian men’s national team head for Sjusjøen
- Before Les Bleus arrive, Sjusjøen opens its first cross-country ski run
- Relief for Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold: the Norwegian should be ready for the races at Sjusjøen
