Four-way battle for the Crystal Ball [Presentation Pokljuka Female]

From March 6 to 9 will be staged in Pokljuka, Slovenia, the seventh stage of the World Cup in 2013 - '14. In this study, the event will be presented only with regard to the female sector. For the presentation of the women's competition can be found at THIS LINK.

Wednesday 5 March 2014 11 minutes reading time

NEWS'' The battle for the general classification of the World Cup is glowing and involves four athletes. Tora Berger leads the dance with a small 6-point advantage on Darya Domracheva and 17 of Kaisa MÃ¤kÃ¤rÃ¤inen. It is not cut off even Soukalova Gabriela, 35 points behind the leader. However, taking into account the play of the waste, it can be seen virtually on the edge of Berger Domracheva is 3 points, with Soukalova in fact the third to -32 from -35 in Norwegian and MÃ¤kÃ¤rÃ¤inen fourth. HISTORY Pokljuka has made its appearance on the calendar in 1992, but never find a resting place. In fact, over the years the Slovenian town, sometimes theater of recoveries, is continuous entry and exit from the schedules of the maximum circuit. Also changing the timing of the'' event, which took place more often in December, but sometimes even in January and especially in March, as in 2014. So far in Pokljuka 42 men's races were sailed individual first-level (10 twenty kilometers, 16 sprint, 10 chases, 6 mass start), including five with iridescent value (one for each format in 2001, to which is added the pursuit in 1998 that gave the world title since epoch'' s not included in the Olympic program). There are 24 athletes with at least one win. Among them stands out, needless to say, Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, able to impose itself on 5 occasions, followed by Raphael PoirÃ©ee Vladimir Dratchev with 4 hits apiece. Curiously known as the'' Austrian Christoph Sumann has trod 3 times the top step of the podium, thus obtaining a Pokljuka half of victories throughout his career. Balza'' s eye as Martin Fourcade not yet been able to excel on these nevi, having stopped twice in third place. The French, however, in winter 2013'' - 14'' won for the first time in two pits had never imposed, and Hochfilzen Oberhof. It will be worth the saying "there is'' no two without three"? We'll find out in the next few days. On the subject of nations there is a clear supremacy. Norway and Russia are paired with 11 hits. Followed by France (6) Germany (5) and the'' Austria (4). Belarus has 2 first places and indeed'' the statement Alexandr Syman of 16 February 2005 was also the last victory in the men'' of the former Soviet republic. Since then he has started fasting for 234 races where you can not see the end. They finally imposed in a'' opportunity Finland, Sweden and Slovenia. Italy'' s not only never won, but in general does not have a great relationship with Pokljuka. In history there have been a single podium,'' the silver in the sprint world championship of Rene Cattarinussi in 2001. SPRINT - DUEL GERMANY vs NORVEGIAQuella of January 3, 2014 will be the nineteenth sprint to contend on the snow in Oberhof. In this format, the vast majority of success has been collected from Norway (7) and Germany (6),'' last decade in countries that have made a genuine duopoly. In fact, since 2004 there are 6 wins in Germany and 4 in Norway. Liv Grete PoirÃ©e (1999, 2002, gold iridescent 2004) is the only athlete to have set 3 times, while Magdalena Forsberg (1997 and 2001) and Magdalena Neuner (2007 and 2012) have repeated the success. It has been said of the victories of Norway (7) and Germany (6), as well as those of Sweden (2) to which you can add the unique claims of France, Ukraine and Bulgaria. Russia, which has garnered much in the men's sprint, has never won in the women's despite having stopped four times in second place. It should be noted as no woman has excelled in two sprints consecutively and, less than miracles, the taboo will not be debunked because last year was imposed Miriam Gossner, far far away from his best form. Realizing "Miri" there are four athletes in activities that has already won a sprint in Oberhof: Tora Berger (2008), Andrea Henkel (2009, after the disqualification of Ekaterina Iourieva) and Ann Kristin Flatland (2011). On the subject of podiums command the aforementioned Henkel and Neuner, with 4 each, followed by 3 to share Forsberg, PoirÃ©e, Olena Zubrilova and Tora Berger. So if you were to close Henkel in the top-three with the woman become ever more podiums in Oberhof sprint. RESULT last race (01/05/2013) 1. Miriam Gossner (GER) 2. Tora Berger (NOR) 3. HENKEL Andrea (GER) TRACKING - STARS VINTAGEQuello of January 4, 2014 will be the tenth tracking to contend on the snow in Oberhof. From 2006 onwards, he shall be required only two, so it is not surprising that female athletes with the richest prize list in this format belong to another era'' of biathlon. There are three victories Magdalena Forsberg (1997, 2001 and 2002) and two of those Liv Grete PoirÃ©e (1999 and 2004). The voice commands Forsberg with 5 podiums followed by Olena Zubrilova PoirÃ©ea 3 and 4. As far as the nations we have 3 hits of Sweden and Norway; 1 of the Ukraine, Germany and Russia. The only athletes in activities to boast a podium in a pursuit in Oberhof are get on it last year, or Olga Zaitseva, Veronika Vitkova and Valj Semerenko. RESULT last race (06/01/2013) 1. Olga Zaitseva (RUS) 2. VITKOVA Veronika (CZE) 3. Semerenko Valj (UKR) MASS START - DEUTSCHLAND ÃœBER ALLESQuella January 5, 2014 will be the eleventh'' mass start to fight over the snows of Oberhof. In this format, no nation can compete with Germany, who won 6 of 10 starts in line held in Thuringia. Sweden in fact has 2 statements, while Norway and Ukraine are to 1. Moreover Magdalena Neuner is the only athlete to have'' set'' in more than one occasion (2008 and 2012). In the light of the early withdrawal of Bavarian and one of Helena Ekholm, the only woman to have won an activity in mass start in Oberhof, Andrea Henkel, the success of which is dated 2010. Just Henkel, as in the sprint, in 2014 this has the chance to become the'' athlete in solitude with most podiums in race format. The thirty-six so far boasts three placings in the top-three (all arrived in the last three departures mass disputed) as Liv Grete PoirÃ©ee the aforementioned Ekholm. RESULT last race (8/1/2012) 1. NEUNER Magdalena (GER) 2. Tora Berger (NOR) 3. HENKEL Andrea (GER)

Francesco Paone

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