From the angle of a journalist, a three-time Total Score winner, Kaisa Makarainen, looks ahead to the four relays in the first weekend of the new season and counts the pros and cons for the big and smaller biathlon nations. She reflects on her approach to the start of the season and advises Lisa Vittozzi on how to manage the winter, which begins with an injury for the Italian Total Score winner.

The season opening features two consecutive days of relays—something unusual for the World Cup. From my new perspective working in the media, this format might work well for the stronger nations likely to compete for the podium. Many athletes and teams may still be in training mode, with this weekend offering mostly a chance to test fitness and readiness.

If an athlete is unsure about their fitness, competing in a shorter mixed relays can provide a confidence boost. However, it's a complex issue that doesn't have a straightforward answer. Sunday’s men’s and women’s relays will be important for larger nations. A strong showing could set a positive tone for the season ahead, but for others, it might not hold much significance beyond preparation.

I liked to start my season with a relay, especially the mixed relay, as it felt more like a warm-up. Typically, I continued to train quite a bit until the World Cup season began. In the last few years of my career, I didn’t really have any easier weeks leading up to the World Cup; it was full training right until the season started. Having one less stressful race before the individual events was nice, but it was also important for me to get a good start.

I was always curious about my ski speed in the first races because I knew that if my ski speed was poor at the beginning of the season, there wasn’t much I could do to improve it. If my speed was good, it boosted my self-confidence and allowed me to feel more relaxed for the upcoming races. As for the shooting part, I could still make the adjustments during the season if I had trained well enough. I realised that the stress level in those early races might lead to additional penalties, and as the season progressed, my shooting performance could stabilise.

I truly feel for Lisa Vittozzi. With such high expectations for her as a strong contender for the Crystal Globe, missing the first three races is a tough setback. It puts her at a significant disadvantage, and she’ll need to approach each race and weekend with focus and determination when she returns. By December—and likely January—she may find herself far behind the leaders due to the early-season gap.

My advice would be to avoid fixating on the Total Score standings until after the World Championships. Instead, she should prioritise her performance and consistency in each competition. If she can build momentum and the season unfolds in her favour, there’s still a chance for her to join the Total Score battle in the final weeks of the season.