Öberg bid to continue winning streak as IBU Biathlon World Cup heads to Germany

Elvira Öberg is seeking a third successive victory in Oberhof ©Getty Images

Sweden’s Elvira Öberg will be looking to continue her superb form as the International Biathlon Union (IBU) Biathlon World Cup heads to Germany.

Öberg will arrive in Oberhof as the woman to beat after claiming back-to-back victories in Le Grand-Bornand in France.

The Swedish biathlete triumphed in the 10 kilometres pursuit before winning the 12.5km mass start to close the gap on World Cup leader Marte Olsbu Røiseland of Norway.

Røiseland leads the women’s overall standings with 417 points as Öberg trails in second on 387 and Dzinara Alimbekava of Belarus sits third on 327.

There is just two points separating the top two in the men’s overall leaderboard with Frenchmen Émilien Jacquelin and Quentin Fillon Maillet battling it out.

?2021 started with two weeks of great biathlon here in Oberhof ??: @TirilEckhoff started her triumphant run to the overall?, Lisa Hauser and Felix Leitner captured their maiden podiums, @russianbiathlon was so strong in the mixed relay and... a lot more?. #OBE22 l #TBT pic.twitter.com/xWdt0pY0YH
— BMW IBU World Cup (@IBU_WC) January 6, 2022

Fillon Maillet leap-frogged Sebastian Samuelsson of Sweden into top spot with victory in the 12.5km pursuit in Le Grand-Bornand only to be replaced by Jacquelin 24 hours later.

Jacquelin won the 15km mass start to boost his total to 371 points as Fillon Maillet slipped to second on 369.

Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen of Norway and Samuelsson are also in contention with 347 and 344 points respectively.

Competition is due to start tomorrow with sprint races before pursuit competitions are held on Saturday (January 9).

The IBU Biathlon World Cup is set to remain in Germany with Ruhpolding scheduled to host events from January 12 to 16.