Biathlon: the discordant bib stickers
During biathlon races, in addition to a number bib worn on the back, athletes must affix small stickers numbered according to their starting rank to each of their thighs. This is an obligation laid down in point 6.5.1 of the IBU regulations for events and competitions.
The legislation also stipulates that biathletes “must ensure that their start numbers remain fixed in the required positions throughout the competition”. But on Saturday, during the opening relays of the World Cup in Östersund (Sweden), these self-adhesive numbers were coming off the competitors’ legs.
The glue on these bibs was really bad,” Sturla Holm Lægreid told NRK. I don’t know if it was a new manufacturer, but previously the glue was excellent and it was almost impossible to remove the stickers. Now it’s just the opposite.
A view shared by Peiserot Eric Perrot: “ They were bad and much better last time. I think they lacked a bit of glue. They’ve tried something new this year, and it’s not working very well.
The biathletes explained that they had seen a few numbers scattered around the track during their race. ” You can’t see much when you’re going fast and I tried to avoid them, but I think I went over them and lost speed,” continued the individual world champion.
“If they stick to the skis, it’s a crisis. You could trip or fall,” continues Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen. Nobody wants that.
A problem quickly solved by the IBU
TheInternational Biathlon Union, aware of the problem, reacted quickly via Christian Winkler, its communications director: “Our partners who make the numbers will try to produce new labels that stick better for [the individual events]. But in the meantime, we’re looking for a solution for Sunday.
In the mixed events, the bib stickers were smaller and didn’t seem to come off the athletes’ thighs. Camille Bened, in particular, took the podium in the mixed singles relay with her little 1 sticker firmly attached to her wetsuit.
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