Young biathlon hopeful Selina Grotian is about to make her World Cup debut in Nove Mesto. The 19-year-old will compete on Tuesday in the fight for the 15-kilometer individual title in the Czech Republic (17:10/ARD and Eurosport). Franziska Preuß, Vanessa Voigt and Janina Hettich-Walz complete the German quartet. “Selina trained very well, both in Ridnaun and here. She is very stable, very lively and also very good on the shooting range,” sporting director Felix Bitterling stated on Monday.
Grotian, 19, is considered the new German hope in biathlon
Grotian and 21-year-old Johanna Puff traveled to the climax of the season even without meeting the World Cup standard. Now at least Grotianus can gain first experience of it. The five-time junior world champion, considered the greatest talent since Magdalena Neuner and Laura Dahlmeier, raced in the World Cup from the beginning. After mixed performances with placings between 21st and 77th, she was no longer part of the A team in Ruhpolding and raced again in the second category IBU Cup before returning to the elite league at the World Cup dress rehearsal in Antholz.
“He has also shown several times in the World Cup that he can run well. He just hasn't realized yet that the shooting and running performance was actually excellent in one day. But Nove Mesto wouldn’t be a bad place to put that together,” Bitterling said.
Justus Strelow will not be in the individual races on Wednesday
Bitterling also announced that Justus Strelow will not participate in the men's individual event over 20 kilometers on Wednesday (17:20/ZDF and Eurosport). The strong shooter is not the strongest runner on the German team and should rest for the single mixed relay that will be held a day later. “We know how he can shoot and pressure his opponents. But to be able to compete on the track with the strongest racers, he just has to be fresh,” Bitterling said. Strelow won the mixed single with Vanessa Voigt in Antholz at the World Cup dress rehearsal.