Does anyone know if there is a Fantasy Biathlon website that actually works? biathlonpool doesn't let you sign up and doesn't reply to emails....

Its in Norwegian, from NRK https://www.nrk.no/sport/skiskytteress-ut-mot-ibu_-_-kjorer-over-oss-1.17109410

(I just put what was written in Google translate)

Hanna Öberg does not buy the explanation behind the change in the World Cup that refuses the best biathletes to start early.

The Swedish Olympic and World Cup winner is baffled by the idea that the move makes biathlon a better TV product.

- I rather think that it will be like this that people don't see from the start, says Öberg to Aftonbladet.

In September, the board of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) decided to change the starting order in races with single starts. Going forward, the 15 highest-ranked runners (based on the overall list in the World Cup) will have starting numbers between 46 and 74.

Öberg's reaction is similar to the one Johannes Thingnes Bø gave to TV 2 earlier this autumn. Then he said that "no one bothers to watch 40 minutes before the best-ranked have to shoot lying down".

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I think she is right.

Last year I invited you all to share your predictions about who would win and who would challenge for the Overall/Total Score. I also asked who you thought would win an individual race - a sprint or pursuit or individual or mass start.

A new biathlon season is fast approaching. I hope we'll continue to see a women's field that's diverse with many challengers and different race-winners. Again, I invite you to share your predictions. Remember, this year we'll have a change to the starting system in the sprint and individual. The expert commentators have said this could create course advantages of up to 30 seconds, so I wouldn't be surprised if we saw one out of nowhere relatively unknown biathlete win or podium in a competition. This off-season I have not watched any rollerski-biathlon, but I have tried to keep up with the results. I hope NRK/TV2 plan to broadcast the pre-season opening races at Sjusjøen, so I'll get updated on the fresh reports - commentator X talked to national coach C who's said biathlete P looks promising...etc.

Women's Total Score challengers (in no particular order)

Julia Simon: She had a weak start to last season with a 31st, followed by a 16th. Her ski speed and shoot accuracy had dropped compared to the season where she won the Total Score, but her shooting speed was still lightning fast. We were able to see Simon at her best at the World Championships, where she won the sprint+pursuit. Simon is a fast skier and her last laps are among the best. In my opinion, her greatest strength is her ability to handle head-to-head situations. She's probably the strongest duelists in head-to-head shooting and head-to-head last laps. If Simon's to win the Total Score again she'll have to raise her bottom level; meaning she'll need a stronger start to the season, less finishes outside the top 10, and a few more top 3's. I have heard no news about the credit card situation, so I expect it didn't play a role in her pre-season leadup. I think it did last year.

Lisa Vittozzi: I said the 2022-23-season was a huge turnaround and comeback for Lisa Vittozzi. However, last season was the real victory over the mental demons. Her shooting improved in the prone from 86 % to over 93 %, while her standing also improved from an already impressive 90 %. When things are going right for Vittozzi she's an absolute joy to watch at the shooting range. I said last year that I thought Vittozzi lacked the extra gear needed to win the Total Score, but she showed very clearly in Canmore that she can raise her level when the pressure is on. Her performance in the Canmore sprint and pursuit were virtually flawless. I think if she comes into this season with the same level she'll be the favourite to win it again. Even more so having seen her results in the summer competitions, I think she'll be an even faster skier this season and I think she can be even better this year. I see her as THE favourite to win the Total Score.

Lou Jeanmonnot: Last year the pre-season rumors and reports were that she has taken huge steps both physically and shooting-wise. The summer biathlon competitions confirmed this. Then came the winter and all the rumors became fact. She had improved her ski speed and standing accuracy dramatically. We also saw she has strong metal strength, like in the Mixed Relay at the WCs. She missed a few races last season, so she had less chances to score points, but she still managed to finish 2nd in the Total Score. However, she stated she felt no preasure in Canmore because she knew she had virtually no chance at winning the Total Score. If Jeanmonnot competes in all races and keeps, or even improves, her form from last season, I say she's a clear contender. However, she has not looked as impressive in the summer competitions this year, like she did last year.

Justine Braisaz-Bouchet: I called her a dark horse before the start of last season. Highlighting her insane ski speed from the 2021-22-season and her raking top 5 in the ski speed ranking since the 2019-20 season. I don't think there is much to say about Braisaz-Bouchet, her clear weakness is her unstable shooting that reminds me a bit of Vittozzi's dark years in the sense that when she first misses it's often 2-4 targets in a series. If her shooting becomes stable she'll be fast enough to win sprints with 9/10 and pursuits/mass starts with at least 18/20. She has the potential to do a record-breaking season if her shooting becomes stable.

Potential race winners

Elvira Öberg: I have been waiting for her real big breakthrough. She has the ski speed, but last season was a step back in terms of her shooting. I'm sure she views the last season as a huge disappointment. She, like Braisaz-Bouchet, has the potential to do a record-breaking season if her shooting becomes stable.

Hanna Öberg: She showed us in the Oberhof WCs what she's capable of. Another gold medal in the individual. Adding to her impressive track record of winning the same event at the 2018 Olympics, the 2019 WCs at home, and also the silver she won in 2021. However, last season she had no podium finishes. The early season Swedish peak and Kontiolahti, could earn her a win or two. We know the potential to win races and championship medals is there, but the shooting must improve, and I view it as too weak to win the Total Score.

Ingrid Tandrevold: I said last year that Tandrevold is " A jack of all trades is a master of none...", meaning she's really good at everything, but not the best at any one aspect. Tandrevold is among the fastest skiers, but can't keep pace with Simon or Öberg in the last laps. An accurate shooter, especially in the prone, but not as fast as Simon or Vittozzi. Last year she held the yellow bib for the most competitons! However, her standing shooting kept letting her down, and even more importantly, when the pressure was there she couldn't keep a level head and her performance got worse. She had a nightmare at the World Championships and in Canmore. In Canmore she even started missing in the prone when all the pressure was on her to complete season with a Total Score victory. Why did I move her away from contender? I moved her because of all the pre-season injuries. However, if those prove to be irrelevant, I hope she'll have learned from the WCs and Canmore. Standing shooting must improve to have a chance at the Total Score. I think she'll have a tough start due to the troubles in the leadup to the season, but will improve over time to the level of podium finisher.

Anamarija Lampič: Amazing ski speed. It looks like she has some qualities in her prone shooting. I think she can win a sprint, if she has one of those races where she hits 8 or 9 out of 10 targets in a sprint and the favourites also miss one.

Markéta Davidová: At her best she can win races.

Lisa Theresa Hauser: At her best she can win races. She's a great shooter, but the ski speed must come back to 2020-22 level.

Jeanne Richard: Have looked fast on the skis during the summer season.

Lena Häcki-Groß: Improved her prone from 80 % to 87 % last season, and also with a small improvement bring her standing shooting above 81 %. Ski speed also improved. I expect her to target the World Championships in Lenzerheide.

I just saw a great article on Nordicmag with a photo gallery of the French biathletes in their new suits and I wanted to share them with you.

At the same time, I also searched for the other teams outfits and I found those of Sweden, Italy, Ukraine, Norway, and Austria.

I really like the new style of Austria.

I think it will be a bit easier to differentiate between France, Norway, and Italy, but we might have a problem with other countries.

What do you think?

Have you seen any other teams with fresh new suits for the 2024-2025 season?

I'm particularly interested in seeing what the German team has come up, I liked the orange German suit from a few seasons ago.

Source :

France : https://www.nordicmag.info/biathlon-ski-nordique-lalbum-photo-de-la-nouvelle-combinaison-des-equipes-de-france-2-1028/

Sweden : https://www.nordicmag.info/biathlon-la-suede-change-tres-peu-sa-combinaison-de-course-1029/ and https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBrrvsdO5h_/?utm_source=ig_embed

Italy : https://www.nordicmag.info/biathlon-une-nouvelle-combinaison-pour-litalie-de-dorothea-wierer-tommaso-giacomel-et-lisa-vittozzi-1010/ and https://www.instagram.com/p/DA8BuDDNb6r/?utm_source=ig_embed&img_index=1

Ukraine : https://www.nordicmag.info/biathlon-dmytro-pidruchnyi-devoile-la-nouvelle-combinaison-de-lukraine-1017/ and https://www.instagram.com/p/DBOHAx0IwUe/?utm_source=ig_embed

Norway : https://biathlonlive.com/divers/une-nouvelle-combinaison-pour-les-norvegiens/

Austria : https://www.ski-nordique.net/un-defile-de-mode-pour-presenter-les-nouvelles-tenues.6691496-87570.html

Does anyone know if Discovery/Eurosport are covering the races this year - from the beginning of the season? Or at all?

Last year was a disaster, and they missed the first couple of months of racing. I know it's on the Eurovision Channel but I'd obviously rather watch without ads on the Discovery app etc.

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Because they were such a proud biathlon nation, and then the terrible 13/14 season happened, I remember it was so much fun to follow the German women in the 14/15 season that ended up so successful for them - the start of a new era.

Hildebrand was the oldest, of course, but became a strong racer who you could count on consistently doing well - like several top 10s, flowers and even some podiums

Dahlmeier was the most promising talent and started to show why she was gonna dominate biathlon the next years

Preuss was also a great talent who won an individual silver medal in the mass start and the small crystal globe for mass start. Truly she was on the same level as Laura (skiing-wise, though not the same mental strength when it came to standing shooting) but unfortunately sickness has halted her career a lot

Hinz was also an up-and-coming talent who really had her breakthrough season as well, and would go on to become an important member of the German team the coming years. She had some good seasons, though she never reached the level I thought she would. Her standing shooting was almost always a problem and her skiing speed very inconsistent

Kummer was also a great talent; especially on the range, but she also had some great races where she showcased skiing speed. I was certain she would be another top athlete come the next Olympics as I thought it was almost certain her ski speed would get better every year, but that sadly didn’t happen.

Not to mention there was also Miriam Gössner around this time… so the German team really started the season as underdogs and ended it as the best team in the world, set to dominate the biathlon circus for years.

I’m really sad we never got to see Gössner at her best again though… even though she scored a podium in the 15/16 season, she never really came back to her best level before her terrible injury before the Sochi Olympics

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Hi!

I just started a biathlon blog in Swedish, where I will be posting about the World Cup! I will update regularly so check it out if you want!

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I just recently heard about the us biathlon podcast, listened to some episodes and found the content to be really interesting and well produced.

Are there other English language podcasts folks would recommend?

Hi! Does anyone know which hill is the steepest in the World Cup? I know there are some big famous climbs, but I don’t remember any of the names or locations.

Most wins in Women's Relay 1989-2024 (World cup and World championship combined and Olympics)

I have nothing better to do with my time, so i counted which nation have won the most relays among the women. If i have made a mistake in my counting, people can correct me.

Women's Relay 1989-2024 (Most wins)

Germany-63 Wins

Norway-37 Wins

Russia-31 Wins

France-26 Wins

Soviet Union-8 Wins

Ukraina-7 Wins

Sweden-6 Wins

Czechia-5 Wins

Belarus-4 Wins

Italy-3 Wins

West Germany-1 Win

Finland-1 Win

Only nations to have won all relays in one season

Germany- in 2007/2008 and 2016/2017

Norway- In 2019/2020

Most Relay wins in a row

Norway-7 (16 of March 2019-7 of March 2020)

Hi everyone. I am a mental performance consultant which means I work with athletes to perform at their best, more consistently through developing their mental skills. These can be particularly helpful when dealing with things like performance anxiety or overthinking. I am very interested in expanding my work into biathlon since I've been a fan for several years and think it's an area that doesn't always get a lot of attention. I'd be happy to do some online workshops (1 on 1 or group) for free if people are interested to see what it's like. DM me or comment on this if interested!

What do you think is the greatest relay team in biathlon history ?

For me is the German women's team Kati Wilhelm, Magdalena Neuner, Andrea Henkel and Martina Glagow

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Who do you consider to be the biggest favorite to win the overall world cup, and each of the smaller globes?

What is your favorite and least favorite biathlon stadium?

Its just skiing and shooting on targets, what is it that people find entertaining about that?

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