Is Johannes Thingnes Bø the biggest World Cup favorite ever in biathlon? Norwegian World Cup runner-up: “I am the best of mortals”

Will someone be able to give biathlon giant Johannes Thingnes Bø a match in the WC? “It’s hard to compare yourself to him,” says World Cup runner-up Sturla Holm Lægreid.

Eleven wins in fourteen starts – and undefeated after the turn of the year. The question is whether biathlon has seen a bigger WC favorite than Johannes Thingnes Bø.

After double victories in Pokljuka, Ruhpolding and Antholz, Bø can start the charge to the Biathlon World Cup in Oberhof as the superior leader in the World Cup.

– Everyone will be sharper during a World Cup, but he is by far the biggest favorite ever in a championship, says brother Tarjei Bø to NRK.

Regardless of the distance, Bø has been impossible to shake. On the ski track, the Norwegian is in a class apart.

– He is the only gold favorite in the WC. You can’t get around that, they say Yle’s expert Kaisa Mäkäräinen.

Only Norway after the premiere

The Norwegian men have painted the scoreboards in red, blue and white this winter. Swede Martin Ponsiluoma started the season with victory in Kontiolax, but after that Norway has taken home all the individual races and relays on the men’s side.

In four competitions, Norway has taken a triple victory – with Thingnes Bø as and Sturla Holm Lægreid on the podium each time.

In this weekend’s hunting start in Antholz, Lægreid hit all the shots, but he still had no chance against Bø.

– It is difficult to compare yourself to him. Being second is not really what you aim for, but Johannes is unbeatable. So I can call myself the best of mortals, Lægreid tells NRK.

The World Cup trio chooses high altitude

Lægreid is second in the overall World Cup, just over 200 points behind Bø. World Cup runner-up Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen is in turn almost 350 points behind Lægreid.

Now Christiansen talks about new plans before the WC – all to try to upset Bø in Oberhof. He follows biathlon legend Ole Einar Bjørnedalen’s advice and stays at high altitude in Italy.

The rest of the Norwegian team will recharge at home.

– It is important to be physically strong in Oberhof. I have noticed that this strategy has worked for me in the past, he adds NRK.

What can Finland do?

For the Finnish part, the winter has looked quite bright. With Norwegian on the coaching side, the national team has raised its level.

The road to being able to continuously challenge Bø & Co is long, but Olli Hiidensalo takes a positive view of the situation with two weeks until the WC.

– As a whole, this has been our best season in many years. Our efforts in the relays show that. We have taken steps forward and hopefully continue the development in the WC.

Finland has been fifth in one of the men’s relays. Individually, Hiidensalo is the best men’s skater with an eleventh place finish, while Mari Eder has been in the top ten in two sprint events.

What is possible in the WC?

– If it is right on the embankment and in the track, the Finns have the chance for top ten positions. Mari can enter the top six, says Mäkäräinen.

– The shooter is very important in Oberhof. The conditions are often a challenge. I have a good feeling before the WC, says Hiidensalo.