Biathlon: Le Grand-Bornand to test an experimental shooting range
In three weeks’ time, the Biathlon World Cup in Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie) will be in full swing at the Sylvie-Becaert stadium. In the fury of a volcanic site, with over 60,000 fans expected throughout the hostilities, the world’s best biathletes will take to the shooting range one after the other.
But this year, the shooting range will be something special. As our colleagues in Le Dauphiné Libéré explain in today’s edition, it will in fact be… made of wood! Whereas the traditional shooting range, made of snow, is made at home and has to be regularly maintained, this one will not move one iota throughout the competition.
In fact, thirty modules – stacked one on top of the other – were built by members of the organising committee. They are already in place in front of the targets, having been tested by Sophie Chauveau before she left for Kontiolahti (Finland).
We have also learned that they will be covered with a white canvas marked with red paint to delimit the different modules. Finally, the mats will be removed to allow the biathletes to take their shots.
Finally, this particular shooting range naturally meets the IBU’s specifications as defined in point 3.4.3. of its event and competition rules: “It must be totally solid, regular, smooth and level over the entire surface used by the competitors during the competition”.
The entire Grand-Bornand World Cup programme 🇫🇷
Thursday 19th December
- 2.20pm: Men’s 10km sprint
Friday 20th December
- 2.20pm: Women’s 7.5km sprint
Saturday 21st December
- 12.30pm: Men’s 12.5km pursuit
- 2.45pm: Women’s 10km pursuit
Sunday 22nd December
- 12.30pm: Men’s 15km mass-start
- 2.45pm: Women’s 12.5km mass-start
- The programme for the Grand-Bornand World Cup, scheduled for December 2024, is already known.
- Le Grand-Bornand World Cup: with 29 days to go to the first event, the snow has fallen in the Haute-Savoie village
