It’s been a tricky time for us fans of competitive cross-county skiing races, with so many of the races and competitions being cancelled. The International Ski Federation (FIS) announced back in February that the remaining World Cup races in Norway would not take place, as was reported here at FasterSkier. That’s left a gaping hole in the calendar for those wanting to catch all the action of their favorite cross-country skiers, but fear not. The only way to get over this set-back is to look forward and start getting excited about what the future will bring.
The 2021/22 IBU World Cup is all kicking off in November, and while that might indeed seem far away, if we all wish hard enough then the time will fly by. It’s a top-level season-long competition series that has been held since 1977-78 for men and 1982-83 for women. The season lasts from November and will end in late March and it’s a grueling slog of a competition ,where to come out on top you have to possess both the endurance skills of cross-country skiing and the laser-visioned focus of rifle shooting.
Here then is a quick look at the favorites for the competition.
Tiril Eckhoff
This Norwegian powerhouse is the favorite to win the Women’s IBU World Cup and looking at her history, it’s easy to see why. The thirty-one-year-old has been part of Norway’s biathlon team since way back in 2008. In that time, she has won a gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in the Mixed Relay and captured the gold twice in the 2016 Biathlon World Championships in Oslo where she won the relay and the 7.5 sprint. Not only that, but she has the sport in her blood, as her older brother Stian Eckhoff was a world-champion biathlon athlete as well.
Eckhoff was naturally-gifted with a rapid ski style that allows her to pull ahead of her rival competitors. It isn’t just her natural talent that makes her such a winner though, as she has spent hours on her shooting to make her ice-cool when pointing her rifle at the target. She’s a popular personality on and off the snow, as she has a cheerful and bubbly personality that fans love. She has even given being a podcast presenter a go, with her team-mate Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold.
Tiril Eckhoff is priced at 6/5 at the best online betting sites. If you wanted to take a punt on the IBU World Cup or just any sport betting then head over to SBO.net. When it comes to online betting it’s always reassuring to know that you’re getting the best deals. At SBO.net, they’ve employed a team of professionals to bring you a comprehensive list of the top recommended bookmakers, and have even compiled the best free bets and bonuses, so you know you’re getting more bang for your buck.
Johannes Thingnes Bøe
Norway currently has the biathlon scene on lock, as the favorite to win the Men’s IBU World Cup is the Norwegian Johannes Thingnes Bøe. The twenty-eight-year-old has absolutely dominated the World Cup in its recent history, winning the last three in a row. His most recent win, which was achieved in March this year, was accomplished in nail-biting fashion when he just managed to finish third. As was reported on Inside Games, Thingnes Bøe let out a huge cry of joy when it became apparent he was going to take the crown again.
He’s also the third most successful male biathlete ever in the World Cup with a monumental fifty-two individual victories. He also has two silver medals and one gold from his performances at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Interestingly, he also has the sport of biathlon in his blood, as he is the younger brother of decorated medalist Tarjei Bøe.
Thingnes Bøe is renowned for his speedy cross-country skiing, where he is able to cover ground quickly and efficiently. In his early career he was never known to be the most accurate shooter, but he has spent the last few years honing his skills, and that now reflects in his utter superiority of the sport. That’s why he’s priced at 3/5 at the best online betting sites.
