Swiss EM's hopes rest on Nina Betschart / Tanja Hüberli

Nina Betschart (right) and Tanja Hüberli are ranked number 5 at the European Championships in the Netherlands (photo: KEYSTONE / PETER SCHNEIDER)

(nda)

After two days of worry, Heidrich and his supervisors understand Sunday that a European Championship start in the Netherlands makes no sense. The back injury, which has been bothering the 26-year-old Zurich for some time, has been aggravated at the Gstaad World Tour tournament. An untimely defensive action tried unsuccessfully to put Heidrich back on track.

Heidrich and his partner Anouk Vergé-Dépré were placed in the Netherlands in third place and were among the candidates for the medal – even though they did not last. always executed optimally. Now, Vergé-Dépré denies EM with her younger sister Zoé. Zoe Vergé-Dépré, 20, not only makes an unexpected start in the European Championship, but also plays for the first time in her career with her six-year-old sister.

Betschart / Hüberli remains a candidate for the precious metal. The duo, who made a positive impression at Gstaad and finished ninth, is number five in the tournament. In Gstaad, only two European duets were ranked ahead of Betschart / Hüberli: the German Chantal Laboureur / Julia Sude and the Czech Barbora Hermannova / Marketa Slukova. These two teams are also considered favorites in the fight for gold at the European Championships

Beeler / Krattiger comeback

Two men start with Nico Beeler / Marco Krattiger and Adrian Heidrich / Mirco Gerson The reasons can be curious. Beeler / Krattiger, number 1 of Switzerland, makes his return to the Netherlands

The play-off player Krattiger was absent in Gstaad because of a hamstring injury. For the European Championship, the Thurgauer is fit again; The corresponding load tests last week in the Bernese Oberland have been positive. In the preliminary round, Beeler / Krattiger will meet the top-ranked defensemen and a total of three-time European champion Paolo Nicolai / Daniele Lupo

Heidrich / Gerson impressed at Gstaad with good performances and ninth place. The duo, who only form one team since this winter, is fit and could surprise the European Championships positively. "We do not need to hide and start with great self-confidence in the European Championship," Gerson told Gstaad confidently for the title.

32 teams per sex compete for medals in four Dutch cities. Of the eight groups each, the winners qualify directly for the round of 16, while the second and third have to make the detour in the round of 32.