Ruhpolding World Cup to Showcase Future of U.S. Biathlon
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by Bill Kellick
(New Gloucester, Me.) - The five-day competition at the BMW IBU World Cup in Ruhpolding, Germany, begins Wednesday with a young U.S. roster ready to face the world’s best. The competition in Ruhpolding will include sprints, relays and pursuits.
Three of the four U.S. Men’s Olympic Biathlon Team members are spending the week at a training camp in Ridnaun, Italy, leaving 26-year-old Sean Doherty (Center Conway, N.H./National Guard Biathlon & USBA) as the most experienced male athlete in Ruhpolding. Doherty will be joined by 22-year-old Vasek Cervenka (Grand Rapids, Minn./National Guard Biathlon & USBA), 20-year-old Maxime Germain (Anchorage, Alaska/National Guard Biathlon) and 30-year-old Max Durtschi (Ketchum, Idaho/Team Crosscut & USBA). The trio has a combined nine World Cup starts before this week.
For Germain, Ruhpolding will mark his first World Cup experience.
“I’m enjoying myself and soaking it all in, as this will be my goal for my first World Cup,” said Germain. “[I’ve got] Nothing to lose, everything to gain.”
The U.S. women’s team in Ruhpolding will be a more seasoned group with three of the four Olympic Team members in attendance. Beijing-bound Susan Dunklee (Craftsbury, Vt./Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA), Clare Egan (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA) and Deedra Irwin (Pulaski, Wis./National Guard Biathlon & USBA) will be joined by Hallie Grossman (Craftsbury, Vt./Craftsbury Green Racing Project). The fourth member of the recently-named U.S. Olympic Team, Joanne Reid (Grand Junction, Colo.) elected to race at the IBU Cup in Brezno-Osrblie, Slovakia, this week.
Grossman, 28, has competed in two previous World Cups, one of which was in Ruhpolding.
“I'm super excited to get the opportunity to race this week in Ruhpolding,” said Grossman. “It feels like unexpected icing on the cake after being named as an alternate to the Olympic Team!”
Egan is coming off a training session in Italy and is ready to get back to racing in the lead-up to Beijing.
“After traveling home to the U.S. for Christmas I needed a bit more time to get up to speed again before racing,” Egan said. “I've had a solid two weeks of training at high altitude in Antholz and hopefully that will pay off.”
All races from Ruhpolding will be broadcast live on NBC’s Peacock, with English commentary from Chad Salmela! Check out the Watch Biathlon schedule for the full schedule and links to viewing options. You can also follow all the action on the IBU app - download it today!
https://apps.apple.com/app/official-ibu-app/id1581415457?l=en
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=at.ibu.app
BMW IBU World Cup – Ruhpolding, Germany (all times EST)
Wednesday, Jan. 12
8:30 am – Women’s 7.5km sprint
Thursday, Jan. 13
8:30 am – Men’s 10km sprint
Friday, Jan. 14
8:30 am – Women’s 4x6km relay
Saturday, Jan. 15
8:30 am – Men’s 4x7.5km relay
Sunday, Jan. 16
6:45 am – Women’s 10km pursuit
8:45 am – Men’s 12.5km pursuit
