Biathlon overall World Cup winner Marte Olsbu Röiseland starts the new season with a delay. The Norwegian canceled her participation in the first World Cup of the winter at the end of November in Kontiolahti, Finland.
“It’s a test of patience. I just have to take my time. At the moment my body is not ready for tough competitions, so I have to stay at home,” the 31-year-old is quoted as saying in a statement from the Norwegian Ski Association.
When Röiseland will start the season is still open. At the beginning of the month, her teammate Tiril Eckhoff announced that she would be taking a break from competition.
Eckhoff are affected by the consequences of a corona infection. “We don’t know when she’ll be back. She’ll receive good care and all the help she can get. Of course, we hope that Tiril will be better soon,” says national team doctor Aasne Fenne Hoksrud about Eckhoff.
The two Norwegians had contracted the virus at the closing ceremony after the World Cup finals in Oslo. At Röiseland, there was also shingles in September.
After the illness, the overall World Cup winner seemed to be able to increase the load again in preparation for the new season before she suffered a setback and Röiseland had to pause for several weeks.
Biathlon: World Cup calendar for the 2022/23 season
| Date/Period | World Cup |
| 29.11.-04.12. | Kontiolahti (FIN) |
| 08.12.-11.12. | Hochfilzen (AUT) |
| 15.12.-18.12. | Annecy (FRA) |
| 05.01.-08.01. | Pokljuka (SLO) |
| 11.01.-15.01. | Ruhpolding (GER) |
| 19.01.-22.01. | Anterselva (ITA) |
| 08.02-19.02. | World Championships in Oberhof (GER) |
| 02.03.-05.03 | Nove Mesto (CZE) |
| 09.03.-12.03. | Ostersund (SWE) |
| 16.03.-19.03. | Oslo (NOR) |