A new and already remarkably fit mum, Denise Herrmann-Wick looks back to Kontiolahti competitions and makes her projections for Hochfilzen. She talks about Elvira Oeberg's chances of retaining her yellow bib form, Franziska Preuss's energy management, and Julia Tannheimer's extraordinary potential. She explains why a shift in dominance in the men's field might benefit the German team.

Sweden has historically started the season strongly. Elvira Oeberg holds the yellow bib for the first time in her career, which is a big moment for any athlete. What remains to be seen is whether she will cope with the pressure of being the Total Score leader. From my perspective, she has accumulated enough experience and seems incredibly fit, her skiing power enabling her to compensate for the inevitable misses on the shooting range. Elvira has lived through many phases in the past few years and seems mentally strong.

Franziska Preuss is again in the good shape at the beginning of the season. She has been among the best in the world for the past 10 years but has had many setbacks due to injuries and illness. Franzi had a great summer - I did a few training units with her - and acted very composed. I even dare say that she has not yet hit the top form. She can build on the basis she has created in Kontiolahti. I trust she will manage her energy wisely and peak at the World Championships in Lenzerheide.

Julia Tannheimer demonstrated her tremendous potential at her World Cup debut in Ruhpolding last season. She achieved two flower podium finishes in Kontiolahti and more or less booked her place for the World Championships team. She is now entering the phase where the expectations rise rapidly. We can single out her great physics and excellent aerobic capacities. She is not a sprinter but can keep a remarkably high tempo for long stretches. She stands well on the skis, but her technique has a lot of room for improvement. With gaining strength and power, she will get more punch on the skis and become even faster. She works hard, and her future looks bright, very bright.

So does Eric Perrot’s. His rise shows that even the dominant Norwegians are not unbeatable—a valuable lesson for the German men’s team. With Perrot taking the yellow bib, it’s clear that Norway’s grip on the top spot is no longer guaranteed, especially after their recent relay loss to France. This will only fuel Norway’s motivation, as their detail-oriented approach will likely intensify.

JT Boe is eagerly anticipating Hochfilzen, a venue where he’s enjoyed plenty of success in the past. With his deep understanding of the venue, he knows how to tackle its unique challenges. While the course isn’t the most demanding and the shooting range seems relatively straightforward, Hochfilzen's atmosphere adds a layer of complexity. The booming official speaker, fresh snow often blanketing the course, and the shooting range—with its unusual air thermals and sun angles projecting ever-changing light reflection from targets—keep athletes on their toes.