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After two successful weeks at the German Oberhof, the biathletes headed to Anterselva where they will attend the last races of the World Cup, between January 21 and 24, before the World Cup. But most of all, they should have gone south by Sunday.
– Our plan was defeated quite strongly by covid-19, like so many other things in the world, says Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen.
Corona hotel closed
Usually the Norwegian biathlon masters have left right after the last race in Ruhpolding (which this year was organized in Oberhof for infection control reasons), to get one more day at altitude. But due to the pandemic, this year it didn’t work out.
– We think it has been key to act early in the morning, but the hotel had apparently closed and they only turn on the heating early in the morning. So they didn’t have a warm bed for us tonight, unfortunately, Christiansen said after Sunday’s joint outing.
IN OBERHOF: Instead of sitting for many hours in the car on Sunday evening, Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen had to stay at the Oberhof hotel.
Photo: Markku Ulander / AP
Tarjei Bø, who won the race, was in no rush in the interview area after the flower ceremony.
– It has been our secret recipe for success for the last three or four years, that we have thrown ourselves into the car after the competition and have gained half a day of advantage over the competitors. But now the whole world is closed, so we have to be on an equal footing with them, Bø said.
Christiansen explained that it is not a completely insignificant advantage that they are now losing. With five days for a new competition, one more day in height is part.
– Even though we had now been driving seven to eight hours and without dinner, but sitting in a narrow car, we still wanted to do it. So that says something about how important we think it is.
– It was a bit unfair
UNFAIR: Mars Olsbu Røiseland believes that it was unfair that men were given up to two days more height before the competition than women.
Photo: TOBIAS SCHWARZ / AFP
Of their teammates, they certainly have no compassion. Biathlon women have not had the same advantage as men. They have competed later in the day and failed to get from Germany to Italy on Sunday.
In addition, his first competition in Anterselva is one day before the men’s.
– It was a bit unfair like that. They have always traveled first to Anterselva, but then they go a day later than us. So in theory they are two days taller than we are before competing, says World Cup leader Marte Olsbu Røiseland.
– So you don’t feel sorry for them?
– No, I don’t feel sorry for them, smile.
It catches up with the competition
Although Christiansen thinks it’s boring to have to stay a day longer than usual in Germany, he still thinks the competitors will have a hard time against a strong Norwegian team in the sand that is 1600 meters above sea level.
– Now we are all on an equal footing. I’m sure we can act on Friday anyway.
– I don’t think that’s what will make a big difference, except maybe the placebo effect. We have to adapt to the situation in the crown, that’s the way it is, says teammate Erlend Bjøntegaard.
