When Martin Ponsiluoma won the distance race over 20 kilometers at the World Cup premiere in Kontiolax, he shot just one bar.
After that, his shooting has really faltered until the last World Cup competition before the WC, in Antholtz, where he was on the podium twice.
The start of the WC, three misses in the sprint and six in the pursuit start, should make any national team leader nervous when distance races are now being held.
Then you are penalized extra for each barrier, with a one-minute time extension instead of penalty rounds that take 20-25 seconds to ride.
Not worried
However, shooting coach Johan Hagström is not at all worried about Ponsiluoma's form.
- He has a strength that not many people have.
He knows he has the speed, but he doesn't always get the shot.
But suddenly he hits and then he's on the podium, says Hagström.
- He knows about that, and everyone else active knows about that.
Everyone is afraid of Martin, they know what he can do.
For him, it's just a matter of continuing and practicing and finding confidence in shooting practice.
He's performing great in training and at some point he'll make it in this WC, I'm sure of that.
Hagström says Ponsiluoma got a confidence boost when he won the distance race in Kontiolax.
- Of course.
He knows he will win again, everyone knows it.
"It means a lot"
Sebastian Samuelsson has never succeeded particularly well in distance races, but comes to the start with good confidence after the chase start where he came third.
- In a way, I can relax and feel that I'm not leaving here empty-handed, that means a lot.
But it is important to do a top race if you are to have a chance at a medal.
Norway has taken quite a few and I hope there are more of us who can join and challenge now, says Samuelsson.
Tuesday's distance race is broadcast on SVT1 and Play, starting at 2.15 p.m.
Picture by picture: Samuelsson on the bronze drama at the Biathlon World Cup
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In the clip, Sebastian Samuelsson tells - sequence by sequence - about the big drama where he broke two Norwegians and secured a bronze medal at the Biathlon World Cup Photo: SVT/Bildbyrån