The biathlon competitions in the Olympics take place at high altitude in Antholz.
But the last World Cup competition before the Olympics, in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, is held at low altitude. This has been one factor the Swedish national team has considered when deciding how to optimize their Olympic preparations.
Some who are doing well in the World Cup (both Anna Magnusson and Sebastian Samuelsson are fourth overall) choose to compete.
I want to have as good a position in the overall World Cup as possible when the season is over, so I want to go a little bit for that, Anna Magnusson says.
Sebastian Samuelsson argues similarly.
And I don't want too much time to pass between competitions, he says.
Samuelsson says that the Norwegians are skipping the Nove Mesto competitions but that he believes that most other biathletes will compete.
Altitude adaptation is important. But that talk about high altitude is a bit exaggerated. We will still be at high altitude for two weeks.
More confident in Olympic success
Hanna Öberg was a bit unwell at Christmas and missed a few training days. Therefore, she will most likely go to Livigno to get a few extra training days.
She prioritizes getting a perfect setup for the Olympics on paper and getting in a larger training block, says national team coach Johannes Lukas.
And, considering missed World Cup points, Öberg (sixth in the World Cup) says:
I figure I have a greater chance of having a good Olympics than of winning the overall.
For Jesper Nelin, who chooses to compete, it's about getting a good starting position for the Olympics. If he's in the top 15 in the World Cup, he'll be allowed to start in the mass start at the Olympics.
“Holistic assessment”
Elvira Öberg won't decide until after this week's races in Ruhpolding. If she's doing very well in the overall World Cup (before the week she had a 133-point lead over leader Lou Jeanmonnot), she might race in Nove Mesto, or she might feel like she wants more days at high altitude.
It's also about the condition of the body and the mind. It's a holistic assessment, she says.
Johannes Lukas says the Swedish national team has booked hotels in Livigno and Nove Mesto.
Then it's just a matter of deciding who gets on which bus on Monday morning.
After next week in various locations, the biathletes will gather in Martell, near the Olympic resort of Antholz, for an Olympic camp.
22/1: Short distance, 15 km, men (18:15)
23/1: Short distance, 12.5 km, women (18:15)
24/1: Single mixed (13:15), mixed relay (15:10)
25/1: Mass start, men 15 km (15:15), women 12.5 km (18:15).
The Olympic biathlon competitions start with the mixed relay, 4x6 km, on February 8.
