Ponsiluoma back – only one place open in the world CUP relay team

Martin Ponsiluoma, Sebastian Samuelsson, Jesper Nelin and Peppe Quintuplet starts in Wednesday's herrdistans in Östersund.

The first three are also ready for Saturday's relay, which is one of the largest Swedish chances in the at home world CUP.

the head coach Wolfgang Pichler at a press conference on Monday morning.

Fredrik Lindström, who is back from glandular fever, are stored in the individual competition on Wednesday. But if it gets Lindström, Quintuplet, or the sixth american in the place – Torstein Stenersen – which takes the fourth place in the relay team is not yet decided.

" What is clear is that Sebastian, Martin and Jesper run the relay. Number four, we'll see. Fredrik is an option, but we'll see after distansloppet, " says Wolfgang Pichler.

it has been winter great surprise. 23-year-old just got the start in a single race in the OLYMPICS in the last year (38 in the distance), but in the winter hit a personal best several times.

In Hochfilzen in december, he was in the relay team which was at the top of the podium in the world cup. A few days later one he is with his first individual podium, as third in the sprint in Nove Mesto.

world CUP debut after missing the first world CUP week due to a sore throat.

"It is very gratifying to be here and to be healthy again," says Ponsiluoma.

" this season has gone completely above my expectations, I have taken the good step and the one where the podium was, of course, something very special. It gave a lot of energy to continue training.

So, the swedes shake off the world CUP.

the world CHAMPIONSHIPS Monday, march 11: Tävlingsfritt in Östersund

the Guide: Biathlon world CUP in Östersund 2019 – everything you need to know