The international biathlon elite were guests in Gelsenkirchen for the 20th time on Thursday (28.12.). The anticipation for the anniversary of the bett1.de Biathlon World Team Challenge was already huge in the run-up to the event and the spectacle was duly celebrated by the enthusiastic winter sports fans in the Schalke stadium. An international starting field with the most talented biathletes from nine nations battled for the title in the VELTINS Arena. As in the previous year, Julia Simon and Fabien Claude secured first place.
The duo from France were once again unbeatable this year, taking first place in the mass start and leaving no doubt about their victory in the pursuit race. It is the first time that a team has defended the title at the biathlon WTC. The athletes announced immediately after their success that they wanted to complete the hat-trick next year.
The podium was completed by Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold and Sturla Holm Laegreid from Norway and Polona Klemencic and Jakov Fak from Slovenia. Janina Hettich-Walz and Roman Rees came fourth. Hanna Kebinger and Benedikt Doll, still in second place after the mass start, finished sixth.
Herbert Fritzenwenger, Sports Director of the Biathlon WTC, is delighted with the successful anniversary celebrations: "I am overwhelmed and full of pride that we are still able to host this spectacular competition here in the Ruhr region after 20 years. The biathlon at Schalke continues to thrill tens of thousands of fans every time. I congratulate the winning team from France from the bottom of my heart, it is always a special moment to win in front of this backdrop."
Team Austria wins the Talent Team Challenge
The young biathlon talents also put on a thrilling race and impressed the audience with fast runs on the cross-country ski trail and exciting duels at the shooting range. In the Talent Team Challenge, Anna Andexer and Lukas Haslinger from Austria secured first place ahead of the two French athletes Jeanne Richard and Theo Guiraud Poillot. The two German duos finished in fourth and sixth place.
The anniversary was rounded off by a varied entertainment program with acts such as Bonita, the Tanzexpress (T.E.D.C. group) and Esad Bikic. Pop star Olaf Henning, who has performed on stage several times at the biathlon in Schalke, warmed up the fans in the VELTINS Arena with his hits and set the mood for the legendary après-ski party in the winter village. Before the spectacular indoor firework display heralded the end of an eventful day, there was another surprise for the spectators: just in time for the announcement of the Biathlon at Schalke 2024, 20 small parachutes with vouchers sailed from the ceiling of the VELTINS-Arena. Those who managed to get their hands on one were able to secure a ticket for next year.
At the same time, advance sales for the bett1.de Biathlon World Team Challenge 2024 have started. Tickets are now available from 19 euros at tickets.schalke04.de, via the hotline 0209 | 97751877 and at the FC Schalke 04 Service Center. The exact date for the 2024 Biathlon WTC is yet to be announced.
Final result of the Biathlon WTC 2023:
Simon/Claude (FRA)
Landmark Tandrevold/Laegreid (NOR) +57.5
Klemencic/Fak (SVN) +1:08.2
Hettich-Walz/Rees (GER) +1:10.1
Dzhyma/Pidruchnyi (UKR) +1:30.5
Kebinger/Doll (GER) +1:32.2
Lie/Claude (BEL) +1:37.3
Davidova/ Krcmar (CZE) +1:58.1
Baserga/Stalder (SUI) +1:59.1
Hauser/Leitner (AUT) +2:24.5
