German Biathlon Star Takes a Break: 'He Didn't Feel Well'

German Biathlon Star Takes a Break: 'He Didn't Feel Well'

Germany's best biathlete Justus Strelow has pulled out of the relay at Nove Mesto due to physical discomfort. This marks a significant moment as the German men's biathlon team completed their last classic relay of the World Championship season without their top shooter.

The relay squad was made up of David Zobel, Philipp Nawrath, Johannes Kühn, and Philipp Horn, as officially announced by the DSV (German Ski Association) on Saturday. ARD expert Erik Lesser revealed during Sunday’s broadcast the underlying reason for Strelow's absence.

"The background is that Justus did not feel really well after yesterday's race," Lesser reported. "He complained of respiratory problems. It’s unclear whether it’s a sickness or an allergic reaction due to the pollen with temperatures reaching 16 degrees. He felt unwell, and there were reports of other athletes experiencing issues with the heat."

Strelow had previously demonstrated his precision as a reliable shooter during the pursuit event on Saturday, but with one shooting error, he only managed to finish in 22nd place.

Without Strelow, the DSV quartet secured fourth place in the relay. The women's team is set to hit the trails starting at 17:40.