As a former Olympic and World champion in the Relay - and now an ARD expert with a sharp eye - Erik Lesser reflects on the BMW IBU World Championships in Lenzerheide and looks ahead to the thrilling Total Score battles as the BMW IBU World Cup enters its final Trimester in Nove Mesto na Morave in Czechia. Can Sturla Holm Laegreid keep JT Boe at a distance and win his first big crystal globe? Will Preuss hold off Jeanmonnot in the race for the women’s title? And why does Lesser see Océane Michelon as the favourite for the U23 Score?

The BMW IBU World Championships in Lenzerheide delivered many historic moments and unexpected surprises. While Johannes Thingnes Boe’s record-breaking achievements and Franziska Preuss’ long-awaited world title will remain the defining images for many, I found Campbell Wright’s two silver medals equally impressive. His transition to the US team has clearly paid off.

Franziska Preuss carried the German team, contributing to four of their five medals and securing her first-ever individual World Championship title in the Pursuit. Her consistency throughout the season provided her with the confidence to perform at her peak in Lenzerheide. She didn’t need to overreach — just executing her races on her own terms was enough to cement her success. As their former teammate, I can say that the German men’s team showed resilience, improving significantly in the second week after a shaky start. Their ability to bounce back from early struggles was a testament to their strength of will and their trust in the process. We knew they were shooting well in the training. And it clicked in the Relay.

France dominated the Championships, winning 13 medals, including six golds, and only missing out in the final, men’s Mass Start event. Their success is the result of a well-structured development pipeline, combining young talents like Eric Perrot with experienced champions such as Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Julia Simon, and Quentin Fillon Maillet. This balance allows emerging athletes to mature under less pressure, while expert ski technicians ensure optimal performance in key races. If they get the ski preparation right, France is almost assured a medal in any discipline these days.

Johannes Thingnes Boe and Tarjei Boe marked their last World Championships with strong performances. Despite Johannes’ apparent dip in form following his retirement announcement in Ruhpolding, he delivered when it mattered most. What Johannes never does is to let others simply win. He is thus unlikely to slow down in his final World Cup weeks — if anything, he will push harder to finish as the season’s best athlete. While Sturla Holm Laegreid currently leads the Total Score, that could change before the Mass Start in Oslo. Sturla’s win over Johannes in their final sprint in the Mass Start in Lenzerheide might have provided a subtle psychological edge for Sturla, but in my opinion it didn’t really affect Johannes. He will remain relentless in his pursuit of the Total Score victory.

In the women’s Total Score battle, Preuss outperformed Lou Jeanmonnot in Lenzerheide but not as much as just the glance at the medal table would say. Franzi was better in the Sprint and Pursuit, Jeanmonnot was ahead of Preuss in the Individual and Mass Start in Lenzerheide. Their duel remains tight, the difference between them is marginal. The re-start of the World Cup in Nove Mesto will be of immense importance — if Preuss has strong skis and performs well there, she could carry the momentum needed to be in the yellow bib at the end of the season. Staying composed and executing with precision will be crucial.

The U23 women’s competition is equally intense, with Selina Grotian facing fierce competition from Océane Michelon, Maren Kirkeeide, and Jeanne Richard. Grotian’s potential is undeniable, particularly with her ability to shoot well while standing. However, she must improve her prone shooting to maximise her chances. Michelon currently leads and, unless she relaxes too much during the break, remains the favourite to take the title. She was consistently strong on the skis in Lenzerheide and she peaked in her form after two weeks of substantial physical efforts.