Biathlon: no distinctive bibs in the IBU Cup, explanations
Thursday, the Vosges biathlete Paula Botet won the IBU Cup by dominating the opening sprint of the season contested at Idre Fjäll (Suede). Author of the 10/10 and the best time on the cross-country ski trail, Bressaude did not give anyone the opportunity to win. With this second individual victory on this circuitwe could have imagined that the Frenchwoman, logically at the top of the general classification, would wear a colored bib as is the case in the World Cup.
It won't happen. We remember that last winter, Jeanne Richard et Océane Michelonwho had also occupied the first place in the hierarchy, had not had this honor either.
“When the IBU Cup was invented, it was decided not to have distinctive yellow bibs [pour le général] or red [pour les disciplines]. The leaders of the general classification or by discipline of this circuit do not represent the best biathletes in these categories since they participate in the world cup »explains the communication from the International Biathlon Union, contacted on this subject by Nordic Magazine.
Not enough bibs bankable
Moreover, another reason comes into play : “Colored bibs are also often introduced for marketing, broadcasting or storytelling reasons, both of which currently do not play a significant role in the IBU Cup. »
It must be said, indeed, that the vast majority of biathletes competing in the IBU Cup are apprentices. The important thing for them is progression rather than rankings and crystallized rewards at the end of the season.
So, the absence of distinctive bibs in the IBU Cup is rather logical…even if, for the public present on site (the races are no longer broadcast live), a yellow bib, at least, would increase clarity.
Anyway, this Saturday at the beginning of the afternoon, Paula Botet will start the second sprint of Idre Fjäll with the same tunic as her opponents.
