Biathlon : Tarjei Boe loses ground, Ida Lien makes a comeback
Some decisions make more noise than others. And this one has sent out shock waves. Tarjei Boe, who has been struggling since the start of the winter, is set to be downgraded in a move that will have people talking in the Nordic kingdom. The 36-year-old Norwegian , who came second overall in last year’s biathlon world cup behind his brother Johannes Thingnes, will indeed be in France for the Grand-Bornand stage (Haute-Savoie), but under certain conditions.
While Johannes Thingnes Boe, Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, Sturla Holm Lægreid, Endre Stroemsheim, Verbjoern Soerum and Martin Uldal have been included in the Scandinavian squad for the Haute-Savoie races, the veteran will only defend his chances in the mass-start on Sunday 22 December.
The world multi-medallist is therefore subject to the law of quotas, as the red armada no longer has a seventh place for the sprint and pursuit. The twenty-five best biathletes overall will be able to start the mass-start [without taking into account national quotas, editor’s note],” explained Per Arne Botnan, head of the Norwegian biathlon, in a press release. And Tarjei will be one of those twenty-five.
In the women’s category, following the withdrawal of Juni Arnekleiv, who will take time to heal before returning to competition in 2025, Ida Lien will take advantage of her compatriot’s absence to return to the World Cup. In the absence of leader Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, who is also suffering from health problems, Emilie Kalkenberg, Maren Kirkeeide, Karoline Knotten and Gro Randby will all be keen to put in a good performance on the Haute-Savoie slopes.
After discovering the elite without really shining in the sprint at Hochfilzen (Austria), Marit Oeygard will be returning to the IBU Cup scheduled for Obertilliach (Austria) this weekend.
Norway’s selection for the Grand-Bornand Biathlon World Cup 🇫🇷
Ladies
- Emilie Kalkenberg 🇳🇴
- Maren Kirkeide 🇳🇴
- Karoline Knotten 🇳🇴
- Ida Lien 🇳🇴
- Gro Randby 🇳🇴
Men
- Johannes Thingnes Boe 🇳🇴
- Tarjei Boe (mass-start only) 🇳🇴
- Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen 🇳🇴
- Sturla Holm Lægreid 🇳🇴
- Endre Stroemsheim 🇳🇴
- Vebjoern Soerum 🇳🇴
- Martin Uldal 🇳🇴
The entire Grand-Bornand World Cup programme 🇫🇷
Thursday 19 December
- 2.20pm: Men’s 10km sprint
Friday 20 December
- 2.20pm: women’s 7.5km sprint
Saturday 21 December
- 12.30pm: Men’s 12.5 km pursuit
- 2.45pm: women’s 10 km pursuit
Sunday 22nd December
- 12.30pm: men’s 15 km mass-start
- 2.45pm: women’s 12.5km mass-start
Read also
- Struggling at the start of the winter, Juni Arnekleiv skips the Grand-Bornand stage
- The programme for the Grand-Bornand World Cup, scheduled for December 2024, is already known.
- Le Grand-Bornand World Cup: with 29 days to go to the first event, the snow has fallen in the Haute-Savoie village
- Grand-Bornand World Cup: a wooden shooting range on the Sylvie-Becaert stadium
- The official programme of the Grand-Bornand 2024 World Cup
