A year and a half after retiring, the German biathlon legend is ready for a comeback, alongside both Johannes Thingnes Bø and Tarjei Bø.

German biathlete Benedikt Doll is one of several stars currently training hard for the City Biathlon Dresden, where several legends will “return” with bib numbers.

The race organizers have once again decided to hold a “legends class” this year. Among the registered athletes are brothers Tarjei Bø and Johannes Thingnes Bø, who both retired after the World Cup final in Holmenkollen this March.

Targets Were Much Bigger, Legs Fresher

Doll, who retired in March 2024, expects tough competition. He’s taken that seriously and started an intense push to get in shape for the star-studded show. But the kickstart has been brutal, reports the former World Champion.

“It feels like I retired just yesterday… But the thing is, yesterday the targets were much bigger, my legs were fresher, and my heart rate didn’t go so high,” Doll wrote on social media.

Prestigious Event

City Biathlon Dresden takes place on August 31. Both Johannes Thingnes Bø and Tarjei Bø have won the prestigious show race before – Thingnes Bø in 2018 and 2021, and Tarjei Bø in 2019.

Switching Sports

When Thingnes Bø retired in March, he said he planned to lie on the couch and get fat.

That’s not how it turned out. Immediately afterward, he sold the roller ski treadmill that had occupied his basement living room for years – he wouldn’t be needing it anymore.

First, the 32-year-old announced he had found a new sport: running, teaming up with German sports giant Adidas. In his half-marathon debut in Grue on May 1, just weeks after ending his biathlon career, he clocked a very respectable 1:20:19, finishing 77th. In June, he placed 13th in the Birken Mountain Marathon.

Now, Thingnes Bø has also signed with the football team Vinger FK and played his first match on August 5.

Also Read: Johannes Thingnes Bø delivers from the start in new sport

Fans Beg for a Comeback

Ever since Johannes Thingnes Bø revealed his new collaboration with Adidas, fans have been pleading for the biathlon star to make a comeback. He’s kept his cards close to his chest.

“I retired because I didn’t have time to train. And look at me now: I have time to train because I retired,” Johannes Thingnes Bø wrote on Instagram earlier this spring.

Now, the comeback is happening – in Dresden on August 31.

Are you interested in biathlon? Click HERE and read more about it.

As a member of ProXCskiing.com, you get full access to all content on the site. Also, live streaming of Ski Classics events with English commentaries is available.

When you become part of one of the World’s leading XC ski communities, you will receive many exclusive offers all year round.

REGISTER HERE AS A MEMBER