Home World Cup in Oberhof
Biathlete Vanessa Voigt hopes for flow in the sprint
Biathlete Vanessa Voigt hopes for a strong shooting performance. photo
© Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
In her first world championship race, things were mixed for Vanessa Voigt. In the sprint she is now hoping for a great day at the shooting range.
For biathlete Vanessa Voigt it is the first world championship.
And then also in their home country of Thuringia. The sprint (2:30 p.m./ZDF and Eurosport) in Oberhof is her second race, in the mixed relay (sixth place) things went mixed for her as the starter. “Vanessa struggled a bit in mixed, but she’s a fighter, she’ll bite her way into the World Cup,” said Felix Bitterling, Sports Director Biathlon.
Home race for Voigt
Last year, the 25-year-old, who lives in Oberhof, made her breakthrough in the World Cup. “We know that the second year after the big breakthrough is the hardest, she also carries the burden at home and that’s why we don’t want to give her any tough target agreements,” said Bitterling.
The backdrop of 19,000 fans in the Arena am Rennsteig was a premiere for Voigt. “I’ve never run in front of an audience here before, it was a good experience that I’ll take with me for the next races,” she said. In the mixed relay, she was one minute behind Denise Herrmann-Wick.
In the sprint, she doesn’t have to duel woman against woman – and hopes that she’ll get into the race better that way. “You have to have a great day at the shooting range, because the shots are just popping out. You have to keep your focus and do what you have worked for,” she said. A reward awaits after a successful World Cup: Nutella bread and a Thuringian bratwurst.