Samuelsson is in the best position before the start of the chase after an eleventh place in Saturday’s sprint, 1.13 minutes behind the winner Johannes Thingnes Bø, Norway. Bø was shadowed by three Norwegians – brother Tarjei Bø, Sturla Holm Lægreid and Johannes Dale.
Up to third place, Samuelsson has 33 seconds.
– I feel that it is still a good starting point for a medal tomorrow, says Samuelsson.
National team coach Johannes Lukas agrees.
— Everything is possible in a hunting start. Sebbe has a good starting position, of course a bit towards the podium. But at the same time, we’ll see what the weather will be like tomorrow, I expect a very tough competition. In Oberhof with those conditions, everything is possible, says Lukas.
Not unfair
Samuelsson was able to match the Norwegians in driving time, which gives him hope for tomorrow’s hunt start.
“The skiing is good and it feels good,” says Samuelsson.
The fog was at its worst during the run-in to the sprint, easing slightly just before the start of the race. During the race it got worse at times.
“You were a little worried that it would be unfair, but I didn’t feel that it was like that today,” says Samuelsson. But if the quilt is as heavy as when it was at its worst, then I don’t think there will be any competition.
Peppe Femling, who shot just one barrier and finished 27th, agrees.
“If it’s like now, you drive every day of the week, but if it’s foggy like during the shoot-in, then you can ask yourself if it’s going to be a competition or not,” he says.
“Must be able to master”
For Martin Ponsiluoma, who started in the world champion number plate, the fog was not the biggest problem but the wind. After shooting full lay, there were three stops and an 18th place, 1.49 behind the Norwegian winner.
He still thinks it was fair conditions.
“It was difficult conditions, but I must be able to master that tomorrow,” says Ponsiluoma.
The men’s hunt starts at 15.30. The women’s pursuit start, where Hanna Öberg goes out as second and Linn Persson as third after the German Denise Herrmann-Wick, begins the WC day at 1.25 p.m.