Seven years after his only World Championship title to date, biathlete Benedikt Doll is finally hoping for a big moment again at the World Championships in Nove Mesto.
“I really want to experience that again. To be at an award ceremony again – and maybe the German anthem will also be playing. I’m keen to give everything in the races to fight for that,” said the 33rd Year-old veteran of the German Press Agency before the start of the World Cup in the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
Desire for second individual medal
The two-time season winner has already dreamed of the World Cup sprint. “I was extremely motivated and it was a good competition,” said the 2017 sprint champion. His dream didn’t make it to the award ceremony, but in the best case scenario, the Black Forest native will fulfill his wish of a second individual medal in what will probably be his last World Championships.
In the 2013 World Cup venue, the highlight of the season begins on Wednesday with the mixed relay (5.20 p.m./ARD and Eurosport). A total of twelve titles will be awarded until February 18th. Based on the season so far, the Germans are among the medal candidates. A total of four victories and nine further podium places in the individual races, plus six podiums in the relays and the first German World Cup success in the single mixed by Vanessa Voigt and Justus Strelow give justified hope.
Clear favorite role
“Getting an individual medal is my motivation,” said Franziska Preuß (29), who narrowly missed a victory in her three podium finishes this winter. Philipp Nawrath, who was already wearing the yellow jersey of the World Cup leader at the start, and Johannes Kühn could also be at the forefront. In the relay, the men were on the podium in all World Cup races, and a medal is just as possible as for the women.
At the home title fights a year ago in Oberhof, the DSV athletes took fourth place in the medal table thanks to the sprint gold of the retired Denise Herrmann-Wick and her silver in the pursuit and silver in the women’s relay. The Norwegians dominated in 2023. The team around Johannes Thingnes Bö is also the clear favorite in Nove Mesto.
