Doll narrowly misses Ruhpolding podium: For the German biathlon men, the home world cups in Ruhpolding and Oberhof were successful with a total of four podium places. The situation is different for women 25 days before the start of the World Cup. Simon Schempp has to cope with another World Cup.

World Cup end for Simon Schempp, hope for Erik Lesser - and a "crazy" race with broken sticks and a big scratch over the eye for biathlete Benedikt Doll. Despite only one shooting error, the Black Forest on Sunday when Frenchman Martin Fourcade won again as fifth in the pursuit was barely enough for the podium. The ex-world champion was therefore "happy and sad at the same time" in front of 22,000 spectators in the Ruhpolding witch cauldron.

While Doll was celebrated by fans in the Chiemgau Arena, head coach Mark Kirchner announced “with a heavy heart” that World Cup winner Schempp had gone. "It is a shame that Simon is not going well. The sad thing is, he doesn't know why. If you don't know that as an athlete, it is always a very, very difficult situation, ”said Doll about his teammate Schempp, who had to cope with a World Cup last season and should now start at the European Championship.

While Schempp had at least half the World Cup standard, Erik Lesser, who was last running in the IBU Cup, is still empty-handed. Kirchner announced that the Lesser, who is also deep in shape, could be there again at the next World Cup in Pokljuka. "The eventuality that we will see him again, that exists," said the 49-year-old. The World Cup in Antholz starts on February 13th.

Doll narrowly misses Ruhpolding podium

The measure of things are currently the World Cup leaders Martin Fourcade and Tiril Eckhoff. The French and Norwegian won the sprint and pursuit victories. In the finals, in addition to Doll in the hunting race, Philipp Nawrath was twelfth, Olympic champion Arnd Peiffer as 14 and Roman Rees as 19 in the top 20.

25 days before the start of the World Cup in Antholz, Denise Herrmann was once again the best German for women. The 31-year-old improved by 13 positions in Eckhoff's sixth win of the season in the eleventh race and finished sixth after three mistakes. "I hope that we can stand up to her at the World Cup on Day X", the pursuing world champion announced the attack on the series winner.

"It is basically going in the right direction," said women's trainer Florian Steirer. Franziska Preuß also showed rising form after her illness in twelfth place, Karolin Horchler was 17 and was close to half the World Cup standard.

Vanessa Hinz, on the other hand, got an absolute top position. Just like before in the season, the sprint eighth failed and fell back to 21st place after four penalties. "The way it looked is a mental problem," said Steirer. Hinz, who alongside Herrmann and Preuss has the World Cup standard, said: "I won't let myself be persuaded that I can't."

While the search for more World Cup-ready ski hunters continues at the next World Cup in Pokljuka, the competition between men is tough. That, says Peiffer, "has been hinting at over the past two years." It is also clear that there will be a women's relay in Antholz - despite the lack of World Cup standards. The second women trainer Kristian Mehringer indicated that you have to be patient until it is the same for women as it is for men at the moment. "It certainly takes such an Olympic cycle, so you can expect four to six years."