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Benedikt Doll during the World Cup relay in Nove Mesto

Photo: Hendrik Schmidt/dpa

Benedikt Doll once wanted to hear the German anthem at what was probably his last World Cup. But that will probably also be difficult in the final mass starts of the Biathlon World Championships in Nove Mesto on Sunday (2.15 p.m. and 4.30 p.m./ZDF and Eurosport). »We've talked enough about the material. We won't have the over-skiers here anymore," said sports director Felix Bitterling after fourth place in the men's relay. Nevertheless, the team can “definitely hope for a surprise. Until the two competitions are over, we won't give them up either."

Although Doll would have still had a chance of winning a medal if he had shot cleanly and lacked his “world-famous balls”. But even then it would have been tight, because once again the Germans' major material problem became more than clear during the title fights in the Czech Republic. The men, who otherwise had no runners on the skis, finished an incredible 2:30.4 minutes behind the fastest Norwegians. For the women and their surprising bronze coup it was 1:48.2 minutes - but unlike the men, they took advantage of the competitors' mistakes.

Only for the two individual medals for Doll (bronze) and Janina Hettich-Walz (silver), where the temperatures were a little colder, did the equipment fit on the feet. Nothing worked for the Germans in the warm and wet conditions. Even smaller nations like Estonia and Finland, which actually fell even further behind after the fluorine wax ban, “have found something. "That's just the way it is now," said Doll, who no longer enjoys "walking around on this greasy snow." For World Cup debutant Selina Grotian, who also qualified for the mass start thanks to her strong fourth place in the individual, it felt as if her skis were stuck to the snow.

The Germans are not going into the final races with great self-confidence, but no one is giving up hope for more precious metals (3 so far). This requires strong shooting performance and one or two more mistakes from the competition. Nevertheless: »There are already doubts. But I like to look forward and try to put this behind me,” said Doll.

ara/dpa