Swedish Biathlete Öberg Forced to Take a Break

World Cup in Antholz: Swedish Biathlete Öberg Forced to Take a Break

Elvira Öberg, the overall World Cup third, has to miss the biathlon World Cup in Antholz due to illness. She shared the news on Instagram, stating "this rollercoaster of a season just keeps going, as I woke up today with symptoms of an impending cold." Öberg emphasized that she does not want to risk her health at this stage with the World Championships approaching.

From a Three-Way Race to a Two-Way Battle?

With Öberg's absence, the race for the overall title may narrow down to a fierce battle between Franziska Preuß and the French competitor Lou Jeanmonnot, who is trailing by 142 points. Öberg, despite being strong in previous races, has fallen 178 points behind in total with nine races remaining. The women's pursuit is scheduled on Saturday, followed by the relay on Sunday.

In her update, Öberg noted that even participating in the relay seems highly unlikely. "I am devastated, but the only thing I can do now is recover and get fit in time for the World Championships. I hope the Italian sun will help me with that." Last Sunday, she had celebrated a victory in the Ruhpolding Mass Start and had set her sights on the overall World Cup as a major goal.