German relay team wins home game in Ruhpolding

The German women’s relay team with Stefanie Scherer, Selina Grotian, Sophia Schneider and Franziska Preuß won the home World Cup in Ruhpolding. Strong shooting was a guarantee of success. The DSV quartet only needed four spares.

On Saturday (January 18, 2025), Preuss even had time to enjoy the bath in the crowd and collect a German flag. Their lead after the last shooting was too big. With a total of just four spares, the DSV quartet won ahead of Norway (+17.4 seconds/10 spares) and France (+25.8 seconds/1 penalty, 7 spares). After third place last year, the DSV quartet went one better this year with victory.

“I was very grateful for the position that Sophia gave me. It was a really cool race. We had super skis. The technicians also did a masterful job”said Preuß in the Sportschau after the second season win this winter.

Nine cheers for starting runner Scherer

The German team had to do without Julia Tannheimer and Vanessa Voigt on Saturday and instead relied on Stefanie Scherer and Sophia Schneider. The 28-year-old Scherer returned to the World Cup team after a long break and was allowed to start the relay.

After a spare shot in the prone position, the returnee cleared all the targets in the standing position and was in the top group. It was difficult on the track after two good laps. Scherer lost 21 seconds after the second shooting and sent her teammate Selina Grotian into the race in ninth place, 25 seconds behind the leader Norwegian. “It’s insanely cool. You can tell that the level in the IBU Cup is different.”said Scherer of the sports show, “It couldn’t be better.”

Grotian puts Germany in the lead

Selina Grotian, who had been in really good shape recently, wanted to close the gap quickly, risked a lot on the shooting range, only needed 32 seconds in the prone position for six cartridges (one reloader) and brought the German relay team to fifth place. The 20-year-old also really put her foot down on the cross-country ski trail.

It didn’t take long for the Germans to catch up with Finland and Sweden. The trio chased Norway’s Juni Arnekleiv. By the time they reached the standing stop, the gap had reduced to nine seconds. While Arnekleiv made a mistake, Grotian cleaned up brilliantly and brought the arena to a boil for the first time.

She was two seconds behind Arnekleiv, with only Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen able to keep up. There was already a gap behind the trio. Grotian, who had perfect legs and perfect skis, demonstrated her strength and sent Sophia Schneider onto the track in second place (+0.3 seconds) behind Minkkinen. Norway followed 6.5 seconds after the leading duo.

Schneider keeps the DSV relay on track

Sophia Schneider had a brilliant starting position, but also enormous pressure. On her lap she had to compete with Hanna Öberg (Sweden) and Maren Kirkeeide (Norway) and knew: It’s all about good shooting.

Schneider started with two spares, but because his competitors also made mistakes, Schneider stayed just behind Finland and Norway. Schneider had wobbled so often in the standing position this season, but in the relay it slipped. Schneider was the only one of the top trio to clear everything and took the lead by 15 seconds ahead of Sweden and Norway. “I thought about all the training here, it always works out.”said Schneider after the race.

While the fans “Oh, how beautiful that is” trilled, Schneider struggled towards the finish and felt the breath of her competitors. Shortly before the finish, Öberg and Kirkeeide passed, but Germany’s final runner Franziska Preuß started almost at the same time (+0.7 s).

Preuß runs the race “home” strong

Preuß, the leader in the overall World Cup, was on cloud nine and shot like Swiss clockwork. She cleared the five targets lying down and took the lead because Elvira Öberg (Sweden) even had to go into the penalty loop and Ragnhild Femsteinevik (Norway) had to reload.

The Norwegian returned to the track 18.7 seconds after Preuß, but no longer had a chance of winning because Preuß delivered outstandingly. The German runner shot again as if from a single source and confidently “homed” the victory.

Resignation touched by Bö

Before the start of the relay there was only one topic in Ruhpolding: the surprising resignation of biathlon dominator Johannes Thingnes Bö. The Norwegian changes his original plan and ends after this season. The 31-year-old Norwegian wants to spend more time with his family in the future and explained the reasons in a moving press conference. The Norwegian, who won everything, actually wanted to take part in the Olympic Games next year.