The two WTC stars Franziska Preuß and Sturla Holm Laegreid have won the overall World Cup 2024/2025. While the Norwegian Laegreid was able to celebrate early, Preuß had to tremble even after the finish.
Preuß and Jeanmonnot ensure maximum excitement
Franziska Preuß traveled to Oslo with a 20-point lead in the battle for the big crystal globe. In the very first race of the weekend, it was really close between the Ruhpoldingen native and her rival Lou Jeanmonnot (France). Both remained clear in the sprint and in the end only 0.2 seconds separated the two rivals. The pendulum swung in favor of Preuß, who won the sprint and extended her lead to 35 points.
One day later, the Frenchwoman struck back: Jeanmonnot won the pursuit, Preuß was only fifth and lost the yellow jersey, five points behind Jeanmonnot, before the decisive mass start on Sunday (23.3.). This race was really exciting: Preuß missed the first shooting and her rival had to shoot a penalty loop. While the Frenchwoman remained clear in the remaining three shootings, Preuß lost her lead again with a miss in the third shooting. The two duelists went into the final round together after a flawless last shooting.
By then it was clear: whoever won the race would also win the overall World Cup. On the final lap, Preuß and Jeanmonnot lurked for a long time, with Sweden's Elvira Öberg flying up from behind. On the last climb Preuß and Jeanmonnot increased the pace, Öberg could no longer follow, but the decision was made at the entrance to the stadium. While Preuß sat next to the Frenchwoman in a downhill and was the first to enter the bend, Jeanmonnot tried to stay on the inside. In doing so, she stepped on her own skis and fell. Preuß was able to take advantage and skied to victory, Jeanmonnot only finished third.
At the finish, however, Preuß could not be happy for long. First she went straight to the Frenchwoman, spoke to the 26-year-old about the fall and comforted her. But the decision was not yet made. The French federation initially lodged a protest, but withdrew it independently after seeing the TV footage. Preuß was now finally the winner.
"It was a sick fight between the two of us throughout the season. And then when you go into the final round together...madness," said the winner on the ARD microphone after the final result, but also felt for her rival. "It was stupid to win it like that. I would have preferred to have fought it out on the home straight". In addition to the overall World Cup, Preuß was also able to celebrate victory in the mass start and sprint World Cup.
Laegreid already winner on Saturday
Sturla Holm Laegreid had far less thrills and drama on the way to his first overall World Cup victory. The Norwegian, who won the WTC in Schalke together with Karoline Offigstad Knotten in December, traveled to the two Norwegians' home World Cup with a good lead over his closest rival and team-mate Johannes Thignes Boe.
Boe won the sprint ahead of Laegreid and was able to reduce the gap once again, but when Laegreid won the pursuit ahead of Boe a day later, the battle for the big crystal globe was also mathematically decided in Laegreid's favor. In the final mass start, Laegreid finished fourth in the victory of the Swede Sebastian Samuelsson. Johannes Thignes Boe ended his career at the weekend.
The winners of the 2024/2025 World Cup rankings
Overall World Cup: Franziska Preuß (Wasserburg am Inn) / Sturla Holm Laegreid (Norway)
Sprint: Preuß / Johannes Thignes Boe (Norway)
Pursuit: Lou Jeanmonnot (France) / Laegreid
Individual: Jeanmonnot / Laegreid
Mass start: Preuß / Laegreid
Nations ranking: France/ France
Secure tickets now
The list of podium finishers from the last World Team Challenge alone shows what a top-class field of participants the Biathlon auf Schalke has year after year. Winter sports fans who would like to watch the spectacle up close on December 28, 2025 can secure tickets now at tickets.biathlon-aufschalke.de or tickets.schalke04.de, via the hotline 0180 | 5378873 or 0209 | 9775 1877 and at the Service Center at the FC Schalke 04 office (Ernst-Kuzorra-Weg 1, 45891 Gelsenkirchen).
