Biathlon: lots of competitions this weekend
While the launch of the 2024/2025 Biathlon World Cup is scheduled for exactly 15 days from now in Kontiolahti (Finland), the competitions resume this weekend. After last week’s Canadian selections in Canmore (Canada), several events are scheduled over the next few days.
Firstly, in France, the FFS selections for the first two stages of the IBU Cup will conclude in Bessans (Savoie) with a second sprint and a mass-start. These are races in which the French girls in Group A will be taking part just two weeks before the official start of the season.
Then, in Scandinavia, the traditional opening races will take place in Sjusjøen (Norway) and Idre Fjäll (Sweden) respectively. As always, a strong international contingent is expected: the French, Italians and Dorothea Wierer, Belgians and Poles in Norway; Ukrainians, Estonians, Latvians, Greeks and Moldovans in Sweden.
In addition, several other countries are organising their selections this weekend: Italy in Martell-Val Martello (Italy), Switzerland in Lenzerheide (Switzerland), Finland in Kontiolahti (Finland) and Austria in Obertilliach (Austria). Tickets for the World Cup and/or IBU Cup will be at stake on each occasion.
The full programme of biathlon competitions over the weekend
Saturday 16th November
- 9.30am – Italian selections, Martell-Val Martello (Italy): women’s 7.5km sprint and men’s 10km sprint
- 9.30am – Swiss selections, Lenzerheide (Switzerland): women’s 7.5km sprint and men’s 10km sprint
- 9.45am – Norwegian opening races, Sjusjøen (Norway): women’s 7.5 km sprint
- 9.50am – FFS/IBU Cup selections, Bessans (Savoie): women’s 7.5km sprint and men’s 10km sprint
- 10.00am – Finnish selections, Kontiolahti (Finland): women’s 7.5km sprint and men’s 10km sprint
- 10:00am – Swedish opening races, Idre Fjäll (Sweden): men’s individual short 15 km
- 12.15pm – Swedish opening races, Idre Fjäll (Sweden): women’s individual short 12.5 km
- 12.15pm – Norwegian opening races, Sjusjøen (Norway): men’s 10km sprint
Sunday 17 November
- 8.40am – Austrian selections, Obertilliach (Austria): women’s 7.5km sprint
- 9.15am – Swiss selections, Lenzerheide (Switzerland): women’s 10km pursuit
- 9.20am – Austrian selections, Obertilliach (Austria): men’s 10km sprint
- 9.20am – FFS/IBU Cup selections, Bessans (Savoie): men’s 15km mass-start
- 9.30am – Italian races, Martell-Val Martello (Italy): women’s 7.5km and men’s 10km sprints
- 9.40am – Swiss selections, Lenzerheide (Switzerland): men’s 12.5km pursuit
- 10.00am – Finnish selections, Kontiolahti (Finland): women’s 7.5km sprint and men’s 10km sprint
- 10:00am – Swedish opening races, Idre Fjäll (Sweden): men’s 10km sprint
- 10.10am – FFS/IBU Cup selections, Bessans (Savoie): women’s 12.5km mass-start
- 10.45am – Norwegian opening races, Sjusjøen (Norway): mass-start 80 15 km men (race B)
- 12.00pm – Swedish opening races, Idre Fjäll (Sweden): women’s 7.5 km sprint
- 12.30pm – Norwegian opening races, Sjusjøen (Norway): women’s mass-start 40+40 12.5 km
- 2.15pm – Norwegian opening races, Sjusjøen (Norway): men’s 15km mass-start (race A)
Monday 18th November
- 8.40am – Austrian selections, Obertilliach (Austria): men’s 12.5km pursuit
- 9.35am – Austrian selections, Obertilliach (Austria): women’s 10km pursuit
- IBU Cup: the full programme of selections in Bessans on 14, 16 and 17 November
- Three places up for grabs for the women and up to five for the men: Stéphane Bouthiaux explains what’s at stake and all the details of the IBU Cup selections in Bessans.
- The full programme of Norwegian opening races at Sjusjøen in which the French will be taking part
- “The signs are pretty much green for everyone”: Oscar Lombardot, Fabien Claude, Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Emilien Jacquelin training on the snow at Sjusjøen
- Norwegian opening races in Sjusjøen: who will French riders Julie Baverel, Oscar Lombardot, Fabien Claude, Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Emilien Jacquelin be up against?
- One men’s and three women’s World Cup tickets, tickets for the IBU Cup: all the stakes for Norway in the Sjusjøen races
- The full programme for the Swedish opening races at Idre Fjäll
