Heading into Oslo-Holmenkollen, Franziska Preuss leads Jeanmonnot by just 20 points. Both have been incredibly consistent, averaging 58 points per competition for Preuss and 57 for Jeanmonnot over 18 starts. On the men's side, Sturla Holm Laegreid holds a 104-point lead with 1,071 points, ahead of JT Boe’s 967. Johannes Boe, who claimed the Sprint-Pursuit-Mass Start triple twice, has another opportunity to repeat this feat in Oslo-Holmenkollen. A win would earn him 270 points, but Laegreid still holds all the cards.

Sprint might give a deciding momentum to Preuss or Jeanmonnot

Before Oslo-Holmenkollen Franziska Preuss has 1,048 points to Jeanmonnot’s 1,028. Preuss won 58 points and Jeanmonnot 57 points per competition - that is how close the best women of the season have been in 18 starts before the Oslo-Holmenkollen week.

Sprint might give a deciding momentum to either of the athletes in Oslo-Holmenkollen. Here is the breakdown of the five Sprint-Pursuit combinations this season:

Preuss won the Sprint in Hochfilzen and backed it with third place in the Pursuit. Jeanmonnot was fourth in the the Sprint and won in the Pursuit. Preuss won 155 World Cup points from the Sprint-Pursuit programme in Hochfilzen to Jeanmonnot’s 145.

Preuss was second in the Sprint of Annecy - Le Grand-Bornand and won the Pursuit. Jeanmonnot had nightmare week with finishing 35th in the Sprint and 18th in the Pursuit. Preuss won 165 World Cup points from the Sprint-Pursuit programme in Annecy - Le Grand-Bornand to Jeanmonnot’s 29.

Christmas brought a much needed break for Preuss and Jeanmonnot but took the edge from their performance in Oberhof as Preuss finished 28th in the Sprint and 20th in the Pursuit and Jeanmonnot 14th in the Sprint and 7th in the Pursuit. Preuss won 34 World Cup points from the Sprint-Pursuit programme in Oberhof to Jeanmonnot’s 68.

Jeanmonnot scored the Sprint-Pursuit double win in Antholz-Anterselva while Preuss finished third two times. Jeanmonnot won 180 World Cup points from the Sprint-Pursuit programme in Antholz-Anterselva to Preuss’ 130.

Preuss won 484 (121 on average) points from the Sprint-Pursuit combination and Jeanmonnot 422 (105 points on average) this season.

At the BMW IBU World Championships in Lenzerheide Preuss was second in the Sprint and won in the Pursuit while Jeanmonnot was sixth and fourth. Of course there were no World Cup points awarded in Lenzerheide.

Their career stats reveal that Jeanmonnot counts third place in the Mass Start from last season as her career-best in Oslo-Holmekollen. Preuss was second in the Sprint in the 2019/2020 season and second in the Mass Start in the 2021/2022. Preuss leads in the Sprint and Mass Star Cup Score standings.

Even the Sprint-Pursuit-Mass Start triple might not be enough for Boe

With 1,071 World Cup points to his name, Sturla Holm Laegreid has a 104-point advantage over JT Boe’s 967. Johannes won a Sprint-Pursuit-Mass Start triple in Oslo-Holmenkollen in the 2018/2019 and 2022/2023 seasons and could do it again this week. That would bring him 270 points - and a glimmer of hope that Laegreid collects 166 points or less. But Laegreid is well aware that he won 59.5 points per competition, which translates into finishing third or fourth every time in the 18 starts before Oslo. The trend would secure him 178 points or more and his first Total Score triumph.

Sturla has traditionally performed excellently in Oslo - he has won three times and scored three additional podiums. And he won in the Mass Start last season, the last time he went head-to-head with Johannes on the home soil.

With the Individual Cup Score title already in his pocket, Sturla Holm Laegreid leads in the Mass Start Cup Score and JT Boe in the Sprint and Pursuit Cup Score standings. In he will do anything to win the Total Score while beating one of the greatest winter athletes of all time. And set the tone for the seasons ahead.

Richard vs Michelon vs Grotian vs Kirkeeide

As the U23 Cup Score entertainment moves to Oslo-Holmenkollen, Jeanne Richard has 676 points, Oceane Michelon 666 points, Selina Grotian has 620 points, and Maren Kirkeeide 506 points. Knowing that Grotian was the best in the Sprint, Michelon in the Pursuit, and Richard in the Mass Start before Oslo - and considering their average points won per competition in the Sprint, Pursuit, and Mass Start - the projection shows that Grotian would win 109 points in Oslo, Michelon 98, Richard 95 and Kirkeeide 84 with Richard ending in Blue bib.