The inaugural Loop One Festival in Munich this Sunday has become one of the most talked-about events in biathlon. While many stars have withdrawn, Norway is sending a full-strength team — and they’ve chosen a rather unusual way to get there.
Norway brings its top names
Unlike Sweden, which will compete with a reserve squad, Norway is sending nearly all of its leading athletes. The women’s lineup includes Maren Hjelmeset Kirkeeide, Karoline Knotten, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, and Ragnhild Femsteinevik. On the men’s side: Vebjoern Soerum, Sturla Holm Laegreid, Martin Uldal, Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, and rising prospect Isak Frey.
Head coach Per Arne Botnan was enthusiastic: “It’s a unique arena — biathlon in the middle of a big city, close to the fans. We’re sending a team full of energy, experience, and hunger to fight!”
Martin Uldal added: “It’s great to be part of something new that shines a light on our sport in a different way. I’m sure the atmosphere in Munich will be amazing!”
Big names staying home
Several top athletes won’t make the trip. Following the withdrawals of Sweden’s Elvira and Hanna Oeberg and France’s Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, both overall World Cup winners Franziska Preuss and Dorothea Wierer have announced their absence from the event.
Preuss, recovering from hand surgery, explained: “I was really looking forward to being there — I’m sure the atmosphere in the Olympic Park will be special. Unfortunately, the competition comes two weeks too early for me to shoot properly again.”
For Dorothea Wierer, the issue is fitness. Not yet in top form, she and her team agreed she should stay home and prepare for what could be her final season.
Norway’s helicopter trip — and why we understand it
The Norwegian team’s decision to travel by private helicopter from their altitude camp in Passo Lavaze to Munich has sparked headlines in local media. Broadcaster NRK ran a story titled: “They promise to care about the climate, but they’re taking helicopters.”
The flight will take just one hour instead of five by car. Given that the team is deep in Olympic preparation, the choice is easy to understand — it saves both time and energy.
The trip will cost around €14,000, fully covered by the €2,000 appearance fees each athlete receives for participating in the festival.
Per Arne Botnan responded calmly: “Nine out of ten of our choices are made with sustainability in mind. Sometimes… it doesn’t work perfectly. But elite sport is about small details, and we believe this is the right one.”
And he’s right — when you’re fine-tuning Olympic form, efficiency matters more than optics. Nobody expects biathletes to cycle from Italy to Germany — they’re simply doing their job.
