Tero Seppälä, who was successful in last year’s World Championships, is trying to get a feel for the European Championships for this season’s main event.
The Biathlon World Cup continues this weekend in Anterselva. See ‘s shipping information at this link.
The number one name in Finnish men’s biathlon Tero Seppälän the current season has been difficult and muddled by adversity.
In individual competitions, Sepälä’s best ranking in the World Cup is modest, 37th.
In the fall, Seppälä fell on a roller ski run and hurt his side. A week ago there was more back pack when the Ruhpolding World Cup races were missed due to the corona virus.
The athlete, who is recovering from the coronavirus, will not participate in the games held this weekend in Anterselva, Italy. However, he is already able to train.
However, the situation is not ideal considering the World Championships in Nove Mesto starting on February 4. In Anterselva, the world cup level will be competed for the last time before the world championships.
– Corona can affect the lungs even longer. However, there is still time for the World Cup. Of course, the competition issues have had to be rethought, so that it doesn’t happen that there is a competition break of more than a month when going to the World Championships.
The team stays to train in Italy for a high place camp. Seppälä, on the other hand, changed his original plan so that he can win the Games.
– I am going to the European Championships in Slovakia next week. In this situation, it is not possible to take a high place camp before the World Cup. You need to get your condition back to normal and get into a routine for the race.
Lesson learned from last season
Getting sick before the most important games of the season is nothing new for Seppälä. He also fell ill last year shortly before the World Championships, but managed to find his best form of the season in the Games.
Seppälä was handsomely tenth in the joint start race. At that time, only the Finns competed better Suvi Minkkinenwho was eighth on the normal distance.
– This is familiar from last winter, when I was sick in January. We know how to get in shape in a short time. Let’s trust that we can do it even now.
Mari Eder’s finished, there is a huge gap left in Finnish women’s biathlon. Even though Minkkinen makes zero shots, his skiing speed does not soar to two positions.
However, there is width on the men’s side. Young Otto Invenius reached his best ranking of the season last weekend, being 18th. Invenius, who skied well, sometimes struggled to place in the top ten.
Heikki Laitinen reached the best of his career in the fast track, being 24th. Even those who have suffered difficulties Olli Hiidensalo and Tuomas Harjulan the potential is known.
Everyone just needs to be healthy and fit at the same time.
– The team’s level has risen. Although some of the group have challenges, the work of the whole team has not suffered. Men have been found to patch up the games. There have also been quite good investments.
– The men’s relay is starting to be important to us and a good race trip. There is already fierce competition in terms of who gets into that team, Seppälä reminds.
The biathlon world cup men’s normal trip is scheduled for Thursday at 3:15 p.m. shows the competition live on TV2 and Areena.