There is no doubt that the retirement of Johannes Thingnes Bø and Tarjei Bø has made the men’s side of biathlon far more open.

Sturla Holm Lægreid, who beat Thingnes Bø in the overall World Cup last winter, is considered by many to be the biggest favorite to take over the throne. But the Italian star Tommaso Giacomel disagrees.

He singles himself out as a favorite and does not believe that the Norwegian biathlon star will be the hardest rival.

“I’m going into the season with the goal of taking the yellow bib and winning the overall World Cup,” says the outspoken 25-year-old Italian.

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“I feel ready”

Giacomel has made great strides in recent years. He has won four World Championship medals, claimed the U25 World Cup, took his first individual World Cup victory last winter, and has consistently delivered top results throughout the season. And now, ahead of the autumn build-up towards the 2025/2026 Olympic season, the youngster is setting bold goals.

“I know it’s an ambitious goal, but I feel ready. Winning the overall requires being at the top consistently over four months. And that’s exactly what I’m going for,” Giacomel told Il Dolomiti.

Last winter, Giacomel produced ten races in a row where he finished among the top six, standing on the podium in six of them. That even exceeded his expectations.

“What I achieved from Ruhpolding onwards was something I had never dared to expect from myself,” he says.

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Perfectionist

Giacomel describes himself as a perfectionist and explains his success through his ability to work hard, systematically, and with clear goals.

“I’m not obsessed, but I have a competitive instinct. Continuity is the most important thing. Discipline is more important than talent. Motivation comes and goes, but I always strive to be the best. That’s my personal challenge. And I love to compete,” he says.

Now, the Olympics on home soil in Milano-Cortina stand as the clear highlight of the season for the ambitious Italian.

“If I leave the Olympics without medals, I will be extremely disappointed. The Games are held in the heart of Italy’s biathlon mecca, on courses that suit me and my qualities perfectly. It’s incredibly cool,” he says, adding that the shooting range in Anterselva is tailor-made for him.

“The tracks in Antholz-Anterselva are hilly but not too steep, and that’s perfect for my powerful build.”

Lægreid not the scariest

With the Bø brothers retiring, the established hierarchy has shifted, creating a vacuum at the top. Now Giacomel points to himself as a favorite to take over the throne. And the toughest competitor? According to the young Italian, it’s not this year’s overall World Cup winner, Sturla Holm Lægreid, but a Frenchman with a Norwegian mother.

“Lægreid is good, but I think the real favorite is Eric Perrot. He is extremely consistent and has the mentality to become the biggest challenger. He has made big strides both on the tracks and at the shooting range. So, he’s the man to beat this season.”

Eric Perrot finished third in the overall World Cup this winter, behind Sturla Holm Lægreid and Johannes Thingnes Bø. Tommaso Giacomel finished sixth overall.

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