Benedikt Doll is a medal candidate in the 2020 Biathlon World Cup in Antholz. In an interview with chiemgau24.de he talks about his chances and his unusual relationship with Antholz.
Antholz - The Mixed Relay will start the Biathlon World Cup 2020 in Antholz on Thursday. The best biathletes in the world fight for medals in South Tyrol for ten days.
Biathlon World Cup today in the live ticker: The Mixed Relay
Benedikt Doll, who is considered a promising medal candidate in the German team, will also be there. The 29-year-old has already won one victory and two podium finishes during the season and was one of the few biathletes who could stand up to the dominators Johannes Thingnes Boe and Martin Fourcade.
chiemgau24.de spoke to the sprint world champion of 2017 about his current form, his goals at the Biathlon World Cup and the course in Antholz. Biathlon World Cup 2020: All information about the World Cup in Antholz
Biathlon World Cup 2020 in Antholz: Interview with Benedikt Doll
Mr. Doll, how do you rate your current form?
Doll: The last trimester went well for me, especially with my last race in Pokljuka I was very happy. It remains to be seen whether I can take this form to Antholz. It is very important to me that I have a lot of previous workload and that I get into the World Cup with my best form. The trimester after the turn of the year confirmed this. The first weekend in Oberhof I wasn't at my highest level, but the last weekend in Pokljuka was. I also learn lessons from this with regard to the World Cup
How does this change the load control in training?
Doll: I set the intensity high and don't spare myself. This is the only way to get the level of competition I need for a World Cup. Biathlon World Cup in Antholz 2020: All dates and results
How do you cope with the altitude in Antholz?
Doll: Height is not a problem on the course, but it is noticeable at the shooting range. Breathing changes, you just have to breathe more at altitude. This also changes the shooting rhythm, which takes getting used to. Accordingly, I have to deal with it consciously in training, adjust to the circumstances and then be vigilant during the World Cup.
Do you like the route in Antholz?
Doll: I have to honestly say that I find it very difficult to assess the route in Antholz. Oberhof, Östersund or the new route in Pokljuka, for example, suit me, I can clearly assign these slopes. But it's hard for Antholz. As if the races were erased from my memory. Things went better and worse there for me, and I don't associate any major emotional events with the track. With the exception of my first World Cup victory with the 2017 season.
What does this mean for the World Cup?
Doll: We'll see. I can usually adjust to the conditions on site very quickly and react as necessary. Biathlon World Cup 2020 in Antholz: How to watch the World Cup on TV, livestream and live ticker
You have given a medal as a goal before the season. Will this remain the case?
Doll: I'm going to Antholz to get a medal. Nothing changed about that. I am aware that this will not be an easy undertaking. It takes a perfect race and optimal material to be on the podium. But I've done it over the course of the season, so I want to do that at the World Cup too.
What is the goal with the relay?
Doll: We want to get a medal. The competition is tough, but we've shown throughout the season that we don't have to hide.
Do you have a favorite discipline?
Doll: The sprint suits me very well, I would call it my favorite discipline. But I've also done well in the other disciplines.
Biathlon World Cup 2020: The German squad for the World Cup in Antholz
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You are the only one besides Quentin Fillon-Maillet to beat Martin Fourcade and Johannes Thingnes Boe in a single race this season. How strongly do you base yourself on these two exceptional athletes?
Doll: I concentrate more on my own performance, so I drive well. I have no influence on what Johannes and Martin do anyway. Beating the two is of course a special motivation, but besides the two there are also numerous other athletes who are really strong and who have to be passed first. So I have to concentrate on myself and try to get the best out of myself. This is the only way to achieve a podium with such strong competition.
They go to their fifth world championship. Is a World Cup still something special for you?
Doll: Yes, I'm still very much looking forward to these events. The mood at a World Cup is always exceptional, and you don't experience the overall framework every weekend. Then we will be there for two weeks, which has a different character than a normal World Cup. Not much changes purely in terms of sport, the races remain the same.
Source: chiemgau24.de
* chiemgau24.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network
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