This week, the highlight of the biathlon season - the World Cup in Italian Antholz starts. Sweden, through Hanna Öberg in particular, has great chances of medal. The biathlon national team manager, Anders Byström, gives a positive report before the championship.

- Everyone looks nice and we had good test runs this weekend, so it looks good, he tells SVT Sport.

Rice and rose

Prior to the championship, there have been mixed results from the Swedish team. On the ladies side, the shape has been very good for many, while it has been heavier for the men. Something that reflects in the feeling for the championship.

- On the source side, they are suave after a little less good performance. So that's where it's really tied fist, Byström says and continues.

- The girls have a self-confidence in the group that is clearly visible, it is a calm and safe atmosphere but still expected in anticipation of what is to come.

Focus on shooting

The team has been to camp in Italy to charge for the World Cup. There they have been able to prepare at high altitude, as it is also in Antholz. For the ladies it has been about preserving the fine shape that exists, but at the same time retaining the craving and hunger and not feeling that they have burnt all the gunpowder.

For some of the gentlemen, the training camp has meant extra focus on the shooter to find their way back to self-confidence.

- We put a little more gun on someone on the shooter, to get security in it. We know they can, have seen it all year on training. It is a self-confidence thing to be confident in setting the shots, we have a lot to work with and it feels better now than before, says Byström.

"Worst competition to start with"

When we talk to the national team manager he goes skiing and announces from the tracks that the conditions are waiting for the riders. On Sunday, the riders arrived to run the mix relay and on Monday the remaining half of the squad arrived. But who arrived on which day he does not want to go in.

- Then I reveal who will run the mix relay and I should not do that, but we have a good chance at a medal. It is usually very exciting on the mix relay, so it is the worst competition to start with from the coach's point of view, that you have to stand and be nervous all the time, but it is fun too, says Byström.

CLIP: Öberg took the first victory of the season in the genre (26 January 2020)

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