There are only seven events left. The final explanation for the Men's Biathlon World Cup begins this Friday in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic). For Martin Fourcade, the stakes are high. After a more than gloomy 2018-2019 season, the five-time 31-year-old Olympic champion is back in the foreground and is approaching the end of his career. An 8th large crystal globe would be a great way to bow out.
But the leader in the general classification, who won his eleventh coronation in Antholz-Anterselva (Italy), remains under the threat of his compatriot Quentin Fillon-Maillet and the Norwegian Johannes Boe. Fourcade is 76 and 98 points respectively ahead of its pursuers.
In addition, at the end of the competition, the regulations of the International Biathlon Federation (IBU) require that each biathlete be deducted from the points of their two worst results. In this game, Boe has the advantage since he missed two stages in January due to paternity (Oberhof, Ruhpolding). The title holder will therefore not have points removed, unlike Fourcade and Fillon-Maillet. Thus, Fourcade is actually only 38 points ahead of the Norwegian and 63 over his compatriot.
No audience
A World Cup victory brings 60 points, 54 for second place, and 48 for third. Suffice to say that the fight will be fierce as the points are precious at the end of this particularly busy season. Biathletes will then meet in Kontiolahti (Finland) from March 12 to 15 and in Oslo (Norway) from March 20 to 22 for two more rounds.
The race will take place in a particular context. The Czech government has in fact decided to have the three events (sprint, relay, mass start) disputed without the public, after the announcement of the first cases of coronavirus in the country. A choice challenged by Fourcade himself.
The inconsistency continues with # COVID19 ... Czech fans will not be able to attend the events when there is no problem for the biathlon caravan to go there while we were all in Italy there is only 7 days .... https://t.co/VDts1DCT2r
- Martin Fourcade (@martinfkde) March 2, 2020“The inconsistency continues with # COVID19… Czech fans will not be able to attend the events when there is no problem for the biathlon caravan to go there while we were all in Italy there is only 7 days… (Editor's note: for the Worlds) ”, wrote the Frenchman on Monday on Twitter.
The weekend program
Friday March 6, 5:30 p.m .: sprint.
Saturday March 7, 5 p.m .: relay.
Sunday March 8, 1:45 p.m .: mass-start.