Biathlon: six Norwegians aim for a World Cup place in Geilo
Every year, theNorwegian Biathlon Association publishes a document on its website called ‘Uttakskriterier’, which translates as ‘Selection Criteria’.
In the edition devoted to the 2025/2026 season, we learn that seven biathletes have already been selected for the opening World Cup, to be held from 29 November to 7 December in Östersund (Sweden).
These are the biathletes who finished the winter of 2024/2025 in the top 15 overall or who finished in the top 6 in an individual race at the World Championships in Lenzerheide (Switzerland). This includes Vebjoern Soerum, Endre Stroemsheim, Martin Uldal, Sturla Holm Lægreid, Karoline Knotten and Maren Kirkeeide.
The seventh automatic qualifier is Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold. If she does not meet the stated criteria, she wins her ticket, it is explained, “on the basis of her exceptional results in the past”.
Some fine names on the start line
As a result, three tickets for men and women will be up for grabs this weekend at the Norwegian opening races in Geilo (Norway).
The document also gives the names of the biathletes competing for them. This list was updated by the Norwegian Biathlon Association in a communication published on Thursday following the withdrawals of Gro Randby and Ida Lien.
Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, Isak Frey, Sverre Dahlen Aspenes, Johan-Olav Botn, Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen and Sivert Guttorm Bakken are in the running on the men’s side, as are Ragnhild Femsteinevik, Karoline Erdal, Marthe Kraakstad Johansen, Juni Arnekleiv, Emilie Kalkenberg and Marit Oeygard on the women’s side.
The names of the Norwegians in the running for the last World Cup tickets
Men
- Johannes Dale-Skjevdal 🇳🇴
- Isak Frey 🇳🇴
- Sverre Dahlen Aspenes 🇳🇴
- Johan-Olav Botn 🇳🇴
- Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen 🇳🇴
- Sivert Guttorm Bakken 🇳🇴
Ladies
- Ragnhild Femsteinevik 🇳🇴
- Karoline Erdal 🇳🇴
- Marthe Kraakstad Johansen 🇳🇴
- Juni Arnekleiv 🇳🇴
- Emilie Kalkenberg 🇳🇴
- Marit Oeygard 🇳🇴
The names of the Norwegians guaranteed to start the 2025/2026 World Cup season
Men
- Vebjoern Soerum 🇳🇴
- Endre Stroemsheim 🇳🇴
- Martin Uldal 🇳🇴
- Sturla Holm Lægreid 🇳🇴
Ladies
- Maren Kirkeeide 🇳🇴
- Karoline Knotten 🇳🇴
- Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold 🇳🇴
The full programme for the opening Norwegian biathlon races in Geilo (Norway)
Saturday 15 November
- 10.30am-11.15am: Women’s shooting trials
- 11.30am: women’s 7.5 km sprint
- 13:00-13:45: Men’s shooting trials
- 2pm: Men’s 10 km sprint
Sunday 16 November
- 9.00am-9.20am: mass-start trials n°1 ladies
- 9.25am-9.45am: men’s mass-start n°1 shooting trials
- 9.50 am: women’s 12.5 km mass-start (race B)
- 10.40 am: men’s 15km mass-start (race B)
- 12.00-12.30: mass-start trials #2 ladies
- 12.45pm: women’s 12.5km mass-start (race A)
- 1.45pm-2.15pm: Men’s mass-start shooting trials No. 2
- 2.30pm: men’s 15km mass-start (race A)
- A sprint and a mass-start: the full programme for the Norwegian opening races in Geilo, contested by the French men’s team
- Martin Uldal and Vebjoern Soerum promoted, Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen retained, Karoline Knotten out of the squad: Norway’s selections for the 2025/2026 season
- The names of the first seven Norwegians to qualify for the World Cup opener in Östersund are known
- Withdrew from the Geilo races because of her back, Ida Lien will not start the winter World Cup season
- “Everything collapsed”: Gro Randby’s season in jeopardy after being hit by a parasite
- Three men for one place: Antonin Guigonnat, Oscar Lombardot and Gaëtan Paturel will battle it out for the final ticket to the World Cup on 15 and 16 November in Geilo.
- “Getting back into the swing of things”: Simon Fourcade unveils the French team’s objectives for this weekend’s competitions in Geilo
- Quentin Fillon-Maillet on the eve of the start of the Norwegian opening races in Geilo: “There’s a real desire to already be very competitive”.
- Two places up for grabs between Marek Mackels, Julien Petitjacques, Sam Parmantier and César Beauvais: the Belgians will also be in the squad for the opening Norwegian races in Geilo.
- “I’m not going to take any risks”: after returning from injury, Emilien Claude will not start the opening Norwegian races in Geilo
- Norwegian opening races in Geilo: sprint start lists
