“Mr. Blinkfestivalen” goes for three-peat

The Norwegians are expected to be at almost full force with their whole squad entered except Johannes Thingnes Boe. Yet, JT may not be missed because “Mr. Blinkfestivalen” Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen who won both the super sprint and mass starts the past two years is back, going for a three-peat. Still, it is likely teammates Sturla Holm Laegreid and Tarjei Boe will do their best to stop Christiansen. Quentin Fillon Maillet, hoping to get the World Cup Total Score title back next season and Emilien Jacquelin will challenge for the French team. Germany’s full squad making the trip north to Sandnes for the first time has the accomplished Benedikt Doll and Roman Rees; former IBU Pursuit World Champion Dmytro Pidruchnyi leads the Ukrainians.

Past Wiesbaden winner Dorothea Wierer will lock horns with Sweden’s Hanna Oeberg, young Austrian Anna Gandler and local favourites Voigt, Hanna Kebinger and Sophia Schneider in a battle for the women’s win.

Farewell Race

However, the day’s highlight might possibly be appearances by Olsbu Roeiseland, Eckhoff, Denise Herrmann-Wick, Vanessa Hinz and Maren Hammerschmidt in what is being billed as the “Farewell Race.” Do not expect any amazing performances but a lot of smiles, hugs and a few tears shed along the way as these recent retirees wave goodbye one final time.

Davidova and Krcmar top IBU SBWCH field

This year’s IBU SBWCH at Slovakia’s Brezno-Osrblie venue features super sprints, sprints and the Gala Mass Start for seniors and super sprints, sprints and pursuits for juniors. Twenty nations are expected to be on hand for the four competition days. Although the host nation will be missing their biggest stars Paulina Batovska Fialkova who is on maternity leave and her sister Ivona who recently retired, the near-by Czech Republic will have a full squad for local fans to cheer for. Leading the charge will be ten-time SBWCH medalist Marketa Davidova and teammate Michal Krcmar who has five podiums. Davidova and Krcmar both have three SBWCH Gold medals in their trophy case.

Krcmar, Femling and Fratzscher

Krcmar could easily add to his medal collection, but several tough opponents will do their best to grab a medal or two. Sweden’s Peppe Femling who won Silver and Bronze medals will be going after Gold to complete his SBWCH collection. Germany’s Lukas Fratzscher, winner of last season’s IBU Cup Super Sprint Score will be going after a win in his specialty and Ukraine’s Dymytro Pidruchnyi is always a podium threat.

Pidruchnyi’s teammate Yulia Dzhima, winner of several IBU SBWCH medals plus an Olympic Relay Gold medal will challenge Davidova for medals in the women’s competitions. At the same time, Germany’s 2023 IBU OECH Individual Gold medalist Lisa Maria Spark will be going for her first podium at the SBWCH.

While Blink and Wiesbaden both have strong elite fields, the MFNF has an equally elite field that is energized by the boisterous crowd and the event’s unique French ambience. This year’s edition of the MFNF has fields as strong as ever. 2022 winner Quentin Fillon Maillet and 2021 MFNF winner Laegreid will be on the start, both looking to become the first two-time victor in Annecy. The route to victory will be full of roadblocks, in the form of teammate Laegreid’s teammate Christiansen, Doll, French twice World Champion Emilien Jacquelin and teammate Fabien Claude. The MFNF always brings in a rising star or two and this year’s choice is Italy’s 23-year-old Tommaso Giacomel who finished 12th in last season’s Total Score

Lisa, Marketa and Co.

On the women’s side, 2019 winner Lisa Vittozzi returns after her rebound 2022/23 BMW IBU World Cup season where she finished third in the Total Score. Vittozzi will have her hands full with last year’s MFNF winner Davidova, World Cup Total Score winner Julia Simon and Tandrevold chasing on the flat, fast course. Braisaz-Bouchet will also be on the start, taking another step in her comeback season with two MFNF newcomers Lena Haecki-Gross and sharpshooter Vanessa Voigt ready to challenge the big stars.