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Point of view of  the expert

Article 3. Scandinavian trilogy

Trilogy has gained cinematographical popularity lately. We remember well �the Matrix�, �The Lord Of The Rings�, �Taxi� and even the old classical �Terminator� has been converted into a trilogy too. It�s a difficult question, what�s the mystery of  the triple form for the screenplay to become a complete product. Maybe, it�s the best way to intrigue and to way out, or maybe three series help to keep the viewer�s attention and provide good returns. Or, maybe three is the most harmonious number, simply. One way or another your humble servant has decided to follow this tendency of fashion and offer you a biathlon trilogy about the start of the 2004/2005 season.

Part one. The German Debut.

The first stage in Norwegian Beitostolen brought a few surprises.  To start with, we all expected high results of Norwegians. While they all were at home and they traditionally are very strong at the beginning of the season, with their leader Ole Einar Bjoerndalen in a very good shape now, both Russians and Germans always need some time to reach the top form, which usually comes to them after the Christmas holidays. But the first race of this season became a Russian-German women duel. German biathletes performed especially well, they added high speed of skiing to their traditionally good and fast shooting.

As for the first men�s race, the triumphant �return of the King�  Bjoerndalen was predicted by many experts, when Sven Fischer�s victory and Nikolai Krouglov�s sensational Total WC leadership were the least expected at all. Well, I wonder if anyone can predict first results of the season now, when any of the top 30 can deliver a sensational victory.   Who could imagine OlgaZaitseva and Silvie Becaert to be among the favourites two years ago? These two biathletes occupied the top places in the opening race 2003/04.

But the protagonist of the first WC stage was really Uschi Disl. Her phenomenal speed together with relatively successful shooting were fruitful for her and resulted in two victories and the WC total score leadership. Last year WC winners, the Poirees, were not so brilliant in Beitostolen, but we all knew, they would improve from race to race.

Part two. Russia strikes back.

German women superiority was cut off even at the end of the first stage in Beitostolen relay, when Olga Zaitseva outstripped Martina Glagow  on the last lap, leaving her no chances. \then we could see that it was only the beginning of the Russian breakthrough to the top of the World Cup. It was followed by Svetlana Ischmouratova winning the second place in the following individual race. The Russian superiority reached its apogee in the sprint race, when three Russian athletes, Ischmouratova, Zaitseva and Pyleva entered top 5, with both Olgas occupying the 1^st and the 2^nd positions.  Besides Zaitseva finished that triumphal period being the 2^nd in the pursuit.

The Holmenkollen WC also brought the first podium for the Pole Magdalena Gwizdon, who was the 3^rd in pursuit and the Slovene Tadeja Brancovic (the 2^nd in sprint). The French Sandrine Bailly returned to the top for the first time this year. Uschi Disl retained the WC leadership, being stably within the top 10, but she lost her previous confidence and we felt that it would be not so easy for her to keep her position till the New Year, especially with the brilliant Russian quartette following her.

With the victory in the men�s individual race Sven Fischer became the WC leader. He was the one not to yield to Bjoerndalen, who regained two penalty minutes from a dozen of keen shooters as if it were child's play. One of those shooters was very close to offer the greatest sensation of the WC stage. The young Russian Ivan Tcherezov fell short of experience and some force on the last lap to rise to the podium.

Both sprint and pursuit reminded those of the first stage. First Bjoerndalen  broke all his rivals in sprint and after that he lavishly squandered al his 

advantage, making 7(!) errors. All the competitors inspired by this generous Xmas gift didn�t hesitate to challenge the victory. Fischer, Poiree and Halvard Hanevold left the last shooting range almost together. The finishing spurt was won by Fischer, who is famous for his great capability of finishing effort. And Hanevold was tired after following the German hard and yielded to Bjoerndalen, who tried the yellow number of the leader and then left for Ramsau to conquer skiing podiums.

Part three. Déjà vu.

The third stage was the final point in the change of the leaders before the Christmas holidays. Having a brilliant start the German team didn�t win any medal in Oestersund. At the same time Norwegians who improved their form took half of the Oestersund gold reserves. Women�s sprint and pursuit were dominated by �December stars� of Bailly and Zaitseva. Each of them took a gold and a silver medal. Pyleva played secondary roles, but as constant dropping wears away the stone, without having won a single race in the season, she became the WC total score leader. The Slovene Tadeja Brancovic confirmed her Holmenkollen claims, winning the bronze.

In the absence of Bjoerndalen  his place was occupied by worthy sword-bearers Stian Eckhoff and Egil Gjelland, winning their first WC medals this season. Norwegian men seem to be very strong even without their indisputable leader, and it�s difficult to imagina who or what can prevent them from winning the Nations Cup. Raphael Poiree followed Pyleva in becoming the leader of the WC being stable in general without victories. For the time being.

Well, here, I think, the identity and brightness of this season, because later came what was so familiar to us at the World championship in Oberhof. Men opened the first mass-start of the season. The trio of  Raphael Poiree and two Russians Sergei Rozhkov and Ivan Tcherezov set the pace in the race from the very beginning. They shot almost equally, when young and energetic Tcherezov dominated during the race itself, while the sly Poiree ran just after him and went forward just before the range to start shooting first. This tactics brought him success, the Russians faltered, when Raphael shot tranquilly  and unhurriedly went to his victory. This victory was first for him this season, but it was done in such a Poireelike way that it silenced all talks about the 6 time World Champion being out of form.

Was it the time to wait a little for Liv Grete�s triumph? The first shooting seemed to scatter her hopes. Two errors when  prone shooting and this taking in consideration her standing shooting results made us think the race was to be continued dominated by more stable two Olgas and Sandrine Bailly. But Pyleva was very slow at the shooting range, Bailly made three errors, when Zaitseva lost her advantage little by little and went to the finishing lap, feeling a rival�s breath behnd. And this rival turned out to be� Poiree! She was faultless at three ranges and saved some effort for the finishing spurt. Olga Zaitseva improved a lot with her running and was in a great shape, but no one could stand up against the Norwegian who was inspired and supported by her beloved husband. After some another spurts on the ascends Liv Grete all alone went right to the finish. And we saw again mutual congratulations of two great champions in love with each other. Welcome back!  

As any other trilogy, our one had a happy-end for the star couple and their fans. But this is not the end of their adventure. Raphael will soon be challenged by the terrible Viking , returning after an overseas campaign. And Liv Grete faces a necessity to reagain more than a hundred point gap from the Russians, who are eager to return the large Globe to the native land of the first ever biathlon Olympic champion.