Relays kick off the 2024/25 BMW IBU World Cup season this weekend. By Sunday evening, the four podiums might look unsurprisingly like last season, filled with smiling Norwegian squads.

The schedule (All times CET):

Saturday: 13:15 Single Mixed Relay; 15:45 Mixed Relay

Sunday: 13:45 Men’s Relay; 17:25 Women’s Relay

Should Norway stumble, their biggest rivals France, Sweden and Germany will be ready to pounce.

Men’s World Cup Relay Score number 8 for Norway?

Unless there is a spate of illness or injuries, the Norwegian men will take their 8th consecutive Men’s World Cup Relay Score. Undefeated in World Cups last season, the Norwegians only faltered once. Sweden grabbed the IBU World Championships Gold medal from Norway when Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen suffered a complete standing stage meltdown. Their whole “A” squad is back. Even though the Boe brothers were not in top form in Sjusjoen 2 weeks ago; they are and will be the keys to victory. The brothers provide a consistent set-up for the usually unflappable Christiansen. Throw in Sturla Holm Laegreid and get ready for the first win of the season. Consistency is the key for Norway with a single caveat: their only penalty loops (and only loss) were in Nove Mesto.

Germany with its solid but less-star-studded lineup was consistently on the podium last season. Even with Benedikt Doll’s retirement, the German team powered by sharpshooting Justus Strelow, steady Johannes Kuehn, Philipp Nawrath and possibly Philipp Horn looks ready to chase the podium again.

Italy, third in the Relay Score, buoyed by returning Lukas Hofer, teaming up young talents like Tommy Giacomel, looks to improve on their three podiums last season. This group used a lot of spare rounds but always shot fast. A few less spares are the key this week and throughout their pre-Olympic season.

Wild Cards

France comes in as the wild card with talents Quentin Fillon Maillet, Emilien Jacquelin, and Eric Perrot leading the way. This group underperformed much of last season running endless penalty loops, but all three and Fabien Claude were sharp battling the Norwegian masses in Sjusjoen. Zero penalties and Les Blues will be hot on Norway’s heels.

Surely no footnote are the World Champion and 2018 Olympic Gold medalists Sweden: Sebastian Samuelsson, Martin Ponsiluoma and Jesper Nelin just need to be their usual selves to be in the chase this week.

Tandrevold Leads Norwegian Women

The Norwegian women won their first Women’s World Cup Relay Score title since 2020; unlike the men, Sweden and IBU World Champions France were breathing down their neck. Norway relies on Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold and Karoline Offigstad Knotten for stability. In their three wins last season, the team was very good, with minimum spare rounds. Yet when penalties ensued, the result was two 10th places. Tandrevold dominated in Sjusjoen; both Knotten and Maren Kirkeeide were excellent in the mass start, throw in another warm body this week and the Norwegians look solid. Look for the Norwegian quartet to be better this season, especially with Tandrevold’s promising start in Sjusjoen.

France’s Unmatched Talent

The team that could bury Norway is the almost overpowering France, unmatched talent-wise with Lou Jeanmonnot, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Julia Simon and most likely IBU Cup Total Score winner Oceane Michelon or Sophie Chauveau in the fourth spot. Despite a penalty, they blew Sweden away by 38 seconds in Nove Mesto. The Biathlon Crystal Ball says France will dominate the women’s relay starting this weekend.

Sweden is the spoiler, with the Oeberg sisters and Anna Magnusson. Linn Gestblom (nee Persson) is sitting out the season to fully recover from shoulder surgery, opening up a spot for either Anna-Karin Heidjenberg or Sara Andersson.. Elvira is a bulldog on the tracks, Magnusson is a range ace and Hanna is a steady, reliable anchor. The Swedes are the only women’s foursome on the podium in all six competitions last season.

Beyond this group, eyes should be peeled on Italy and Germany. The 2023 IBU World Champions have Lisa Vittozzi on anchor (not in Kontiolahti) and a returning Dorothea Wierer. The Germans are always good, especially with Franziska Preuss and sharpshooter Vanessa Voigt, filing out with young talents like Selina Grotian.

Expect the women’s relay to be hotly contested this week and throughout the season.

Mixed Relays to Norway

Norway’s depth carried the day in mixed relays last season. They only won twice but made the podium in all six World Cups and the IBU World Championships, an enviable record. They have more high-quality men than needed, Tandrevold and Knotten top the women, with Kirkeeide and Juni Arnekleiv as solid options. The Norwegians seem ready to defend their small crystal globe, starting when the single mixed kicks off the season tomorrow.

France won both mixed relays in Nove Mesto, with a deep talent pool. Just think Perrot, Fillon Maillet, and Jacquelin teamed up with Simon, Jeanmonnot, and Braisaz Bouchet. A battle royale is likely against their Scandinavian foes. Sweden had a victory and two second places last season; Samuelsson, Ponsiluoma, Nelin, the Oeberg sisters and Magnusson are the keys to mixed relay success. Germany again is the wild card. Remember Strelow and Voigt put on a master class in the Antholz Single Mixed with a brilliant record-setting one penalty win over Christiansen and Tandrevold.

Although it sounds like a broken record, it will be hard to vote against Norway having a big opening weekend in the four relays and throughout the season. They may not be perfect, but until proven otherwise, France, Sweden and Germany remain challengers.

Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni, Nordic Focus