Franziska Preuß secured third place in the pursuit event at Antholz, despite a shooting error, while French biathlete Lou Jeanmonnot claimed victory. Preuß leads the crystal globe standings with 92 points, reflecting on her successful performance this season. She plans to focus on the upcoming World Championships in Switzerland, opting out of the women’s relay to conserve energy. Meanwhile, Selina Grotian and Sophia Schneider faced challenges, with Grotian finishing sixth and Schneider in 48th place.
Franziska Preuß Shines Again in Antholz
Franziska Preuß has once again proven her prowess on the biathlon circuit by clinching a podium spot in Antholz. Despite a shooting misstep, she secured third place in the pursuit event held on January 25, 2025, maintaining her impressive sprint position. French biathlete Lou Jeanmonnot, with one shooting error, dominated the race, finishing in a remarkable 29:44.00 minutes, followed closely by her compatriot Julia Simon who crossed the line 24.1 seconds later. This victory marked Jeanmonnot’s sixth World Cup win this winter, bringing her closer to Preuß in the overall standings, with a 53.6-second gap separating them.
The competition was fierce, with Jeanne Richard and Oceane Michelon also representing France in the fourth and fifth positions respectively, showcasing the strength of the French team.
Leading the Charge for the Crystal Globe
As the race for the coveted crystal globe heats up, Preuß remains in the lead with 92 points. The 30-year-old biathlete has consistently impressed this season, achieving her tenth podium finish in the pursuit. “I am aware of all aspects of biathlon,” Preuß shared with Sportschau, expressing her happiness with her current performance and the effectiveness of her training regimen. Following her podium finish in Antholz, Preuß will take a break from the upcoming women’s relay.
During the pursuit, Preuß showcased her exceptional form, particularly during the final lap when she outpaced Jeanne Richard in a thrilling contest for third place. Richard finished fourth, while Michelon rounded out the top five, further solidifying France’s dominance on that day.
In the pursuit, Selina Grotian, just 20 years old, started strong in second place but fell to sixth after facing two shooting errors, finishing with a time of +1:36.7 minutes. Despite this setback, Grotian expressed satisfaction with her overall performance, noting her consistent improvement at the shooting range. Meanwhile, Sophia Schneider faced challenges, finishing in 48th place, struggling with a significant time deficit and multiple penalty laps.
As the race unfolded, Preuß and Grotian initially positioned themselves well behind Jeanmonnot, who quickly built a substantial lead. However, both Germans managed to recover during the second prone shooting without errors, although Jeanmonnot maintained her advantage, leading by over a minute.
The battle for the final podium spot was intense, with Simon in second place still in reach for the German duo. Preuß hit all her targets but struggled to close the gap as Grotian faced another penalty lap, ultimately losing sight of the podium. Jeanmonnot maintained her precision, finishing with one mistake in her last shooting round while Preuß and Richard both hit all five targets, leading to a decisive final lap.
Preuß reflected on her strategy, stating, “I knew I needed a zero in the last shooting. It was a unique situation that allowed me to set up Jeanne because there was room behind us.” She plans to focus fully on the upcoming World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, from February 12 to 23, where she aims to secure her first individual medal.
In preparation for these crucial competitions, Preuß has chosen to skip the relay, stating, “January has been exhausting – both physically and mentally. I will support the team from the sidelines.” Fellow German biathlete Stefanie Scherer also opted out of the pursuit to conserve her energy for the upcoming European Championships in Martell, Italy. Sports director Felix Bitterling emphasized that this decision was wise, given Scherer’s recent competition load and her less-than-ideal starting position.
With Marlene Fichtner and Julia Kink stepping in for the relay, the German team is set to make strategic moves as they aim for success in the upcoming events. Stay updated on the biathlon calendar and all the action from the World Cup to the World Championships on your smartphone!