STOCKHOLM, Jan 20 (Reuters) - The retirement of dominant ‌Norwegian Johannes Thingnes Boe has left the men's biathlon field for the 2026 Winter Olympics wide open, and Italian fans will be hoping that ‌the in-form Tommaso Giacomel can seize the moment in Milano Cortina.

Boe blew away the field four years ago in Beijing, winning four ‌gold medals in the six men's biathlon events he took part in, but his decision to quit the sport at the end of last season has opened the door for Giacomel, who is currently the world's top-ranked male biathlete.