Biathlon: Anna Gandler tells Nordic Magazine about Hochfilzen
From this Friday, the Biathlon World Cup resumes in Hochfilzen (Austria). In the Tyrol, the biathletes are back in the sunshine after spending two weeks in the dark in Kontiolahti (Finland). At the Austrian venue, for these three consecutive days of racing (sprint, pursuit, relay), they will also have to contend with a demanding course.
“I don’t know if you can say that the track is hard or if it’s just an impression because we’re coming from Scandinavia, where we were at sea level and we’re going straight up to 1,000 metres, explains Anna Gandler to Nordic Magazine. Overall, the track is a big change from Kontiolahti, where there are really long climbs! Here in Hochfilzen, you’re always going up and down, but you can’t really rest, you always have to work a bit.”
In more detail, Anna Gandler explains that, from the start, the route goes “straight ahead and you have to work straight away”. After a downhill section, the biathletes face their first climb, which is “really small”.
“After that, there’s an uphill flat section where you mustn’t fall asleep, followed by a U-turn, which is very well known in Austria and rather dangerous. You really have to be careful, it’s hard on the legs and there have been crashes there in the past”, describes the Austrian biathlete who will be celebrating her 24th birthday in a few weeks’ time.
The Landertinger rise as a justice of the peace
After that, the athletes are faced with a difficult climb. “Immediately after that, there’s another descent where you can finally get some rest. Quickly after that, there’s the Landertinger climb, which is really hard and long… We call this climb that because Dominik Landertinger, on the 2017 Worlds relay, went all the way to the top in one-step and then we won the bronze medal against the Germans,” recalls Anna Gandler.
Although this climb has since been modified by various works and is now a little flatter at the top, it remains a formidable climb and is typical of the Hochfilzen site. “You need to work even harder and not get into a schuss at the top, advises Anna Gandler. A fairly dangerous descent follows, then there’s a short climb. After that, in the final section, there’s a tunnel and then you reach the finish or the shooting range.”
A (difficult) uphill finish at the shooting range
At Hochfilzen, the finish at the shooting range is uphill. “It’s one of the most difficult on the circuit, says the Austrian. You can’t be too slow or too fast in terms of time, but you have to find a happy medium! As for the shooting itself, the wind is fairly calm in winter: “I like this shooting range. For me, it’s easier than the ones in Östersund and Kontiolahti, but that’s just my feeling and it depends on the athletes.”
In any case, Anna Gandler will be trying to shine at this home World Cup. Crowned European junior champion in the individual event in 2020 on home soil and the author of a top 10 in the World Cup last season, she is used to putting in fine performances here.
“I’m hoping to keep the momentum going, says Emilien Claude’s girlfriend. It’s also great because there’s going to be a lot of people in the stands, which was lacking in Finland! I’m really looking forward to it.”
Maps of the tracks used at the Biathlon World Cup in Hochfilzen (Austria)
Men’s sprint
Women’s sprint
Male pursuit
Women’s pursuit
Men’s relay
Women’s relay
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- “I just feel super happy to have achieved this”: how did Eric Perrot digest his victory in the Kontiolahti mass-start and his assumption of power in the general standings?
