Biathlon: Velepec’s Resignation Offers ‘Great Opportunity’ for a Fresh Start

German biathlon is facing a turning point as head coach Uros Velepec unexpectedly resigns in the middle of the season. The decision, announced by the German Ski Association on February 25, 2025, comes shortly after a surprising relay success at the World Championships in Lenzerheide, which nonetheless could not mask overall shortcomings – especially in shooting accuracy and speed.

Velepec’s departure has been described as a ‘paukenschlag’ (a thunderclap) that stunned not just sports director Felix Bitterling but also many of his athletes. His resignation, effective immediately, is seen as a necessary step to inject new energy into the national biathlon setup. In his place, Tobias Reiter, who previously led the men in the IBU-Cup and has long been considered a potential successor, will take over as head coach. Bitterling is quick to praise Reiter, calling him “one of the best concept coaches in biathlon” and emphasizing that the transition offers a “great opportunity” for rejuvenation without adding undue pressure.

Reiter, who ended his athletic career in his mid-20s and then embarked on a coaching career with the Bavarian Ski Association, has already proven his mettle by guiding Franziska Preuß to three gold medals at the Youth Olympic Games in 2012. His experience also includes a successful tenure as the discipline coach for the German women between 2014 and 2018. Now, with just three World Cup rounds remaining before the full-scale season preparation, his task will be to ensure a smooth transition, address immediate challenges and lay the foundation for a revitalized German biathlon team aiming at future international success.

Velepec, 58, acknowledged that his approaches had begun to stagnate, citing both his own limits and an aging roster as reasons that a new impulse was needed. While his tenure did have its merits, particularly in the wake of a bronze relay finish, the persistent issues – notably in shooting – prompted the decisive step now seen as a benefit for the long-term evolution of the team.

As the season enters its final World Cup weeks, the focus now shifts to implementing Reiter’s methods and capitalizing on the chance for a fresh start, with the hope that this change will set the stage for a successful Olympic cycle.