Known for his heartfelt passion and all-or-nothing approach, the World and Olympic Champion - and now ARD biathlon expert - Erik Lesser looks forward to the Oberhof week with its unique mix of demanding climbs, moody weather swings, and fantastic fans. With the German Franziska Preuss in yellow and other home athletes in great shape, the stage looks set for a thrilling week of biathlon - the first in 2025!

As the new year kicks off and Trimester 2 begins, Franziska Preuss arrives in Oberhof proudly wearing the yellow bib. She worked hard to secure her lead in the Total Score standings. While challenges for Lisa Vittozzi, Hanna Oeberg, and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold - plus a sudden drop of form for Elvira Oeberg - made the competition less intense, Preuss consistently delivered strong performances. Her fast skiing and improved shooting have been key, helping her excel where she struggled in previous seasons.

But not just Preuss, the German women’s team is performing exceptionally well this winter. Vanessa Voigt holds fifth place in the Total Score, and Selina Grotian celebrated her first World Cup win in Annecy. That first win is a big moment but not always easy to process. I remember my first World Cup victory—a Pursuit gold at the World Championships in Kontiolahti 2015.

It felt almost unreal. My body stayed so tense, even during treatment with the team physios, that I only relaxed the next day. In the whirlwind of the World Championships, it was even more difficult to let the success sink in. It wasn’t until my second win, in the Mass Start in Ruhpolding the following season, that I fully felt the joy of the victorious moment.

Let’s not forget Julia Tannheimer’s excellent racing in Finland and her strong performance in the Relay in Hochfilzen. The atmosphere in the team is fantastic, and the outlook for the women’s relay in the coming weeks is very optimistic. Germany can go shoulder-to-shoulder with France on any given day!

The German men, however, are seeking more consistency. Danilo Riethmueller, Philipp Nawrath, and Philipp Horn have had individual successes but have struggled to maintain form over multiple races.. Coaches would like to see a higher level of consistency, which would then be reflected in the relay podium finishes.

JT Boe is - again - in the driving seat in the men’s Total Score battle. He is not as dominant (yet) as in the previous seasons, there are perhaps some unexpected misses on the shooting range but he clearly is the strongest and will remain so in this and the next, Olympic season. People wonder if chasing Ole Einar Bjoerndalen’s records adds pressure, but I think not. Johannes competes on his terms—records just come naturally with his consistent excellence.

If the forecast holds, Oberhof is set for an exciting World Cup with big crowds and its famously challenging, moody weather. Franziska Preuss should feel confident tackling the Birxsteig and Oberhof’s other climbs—her strong skiing technique is perfect for this course. But with the shape she’s shown in Trimester 1, any venue feels like a good one. Throw in the home crowd, and it’s a biathlon party!