Biathlon : perfect preparation at Hochfilzen
“We are looking forward to welcoming the best athletes in the world to Hochfilzen”. These are the words of Christian Scherer, Secretary General of the Austrian Ski Federation. From Friday, the IBU’s flagship circuit will be setting up camp in Hochfilzen, in the Austrian Tyrol, for the second stage of the season.
After spending two weeks in the Finnish night, the biathletes should be back in the sun in Central Europe. On site, everyone involved in the event is working with a clear idea in mind: “This is a place where biathlon is alive and kicking, and you can feel it with the many volunteers in the region. For us, this weekend is a first step towards the 2028 World Championships, where we want to present ourselves to the biathlon family as the ideal host”, says the General Secretary.
Thanks to the work carried out by all the Austrian teams, conditions should be optimal for the opening of the competitions. “The original track, 3.3 kilometres long, is already ready for the race. A total of 11,000 cubic metres of snow were needed, explains Franz Berger, head of the site’s organising committee. More than two thirds of this total came from the snow bank created the previous winter.”
And for spectators who have bought tickets in the grandstands, the organisation looks to be perfect. “The grandstands can accommodate over 4,600 people. They were also fully assembled recently, he explains. Today, the final finishing touches will follow, such as the installation of the giant screens to provide fans with perfect conditions.“
Over the course of the weekend, more than 25,000 biathlon fans are expected to be out in force in the grandstands and along the track, which has been freshened by thirty centimetres of snow.
The full programme for the Hochfilzen Biathlon World Cup 🇦🇹
Friday 13 December
- 11.30am: women’s 7.5 km sprint
- 2.20pm: Men’s 10km sprint
Saturday 14th December
- 12.15pm: Women’s 10 km pursuit
- 2.45pm: Men’s 12.5 km pursuit
Sunday 15 December
- 11.30am: women’s 4×6 km relay
- 2.15pm: Men’s 4×7.5km relay
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