Biathlon: focus on the Lenzerheide world championships courses
This year, for the very first time, the biathlon world championships are being held in Lenzerheide (Switzerland). From Wednesday 12 to Sunday 23 February, no fewer than twelve world titles will be at stake in the canton of Grisons.
All this on the facilities of the Roland Arena, which has so far only hosted the World Cup once, in December 2023. A regular venue for the IBU Cup and Junior Cup, it also hosted the World Youth and Junior Championships in 2020. With its reputation for difficulty, it should also create some gaps on the cross-country skis.
“I like this track. There’s an uphill section in the first half, then you descend and come back to a final uphill section before the final sprint, explained Eric Perrot a few days ago at a press briefing attended by Nordic Magazine. It’s a bit special because you come off a big descent and then there’s a very tense bend before the final sprint. I think there’s a good chance of friction on this bend, which is often icy.”
Three key sectors named in honour of important Swiss biathlon families
In fact, on the different loops (1.5 lm, 2 km, 2.5 km, 3 km, 3.3 km, 4 km) that will be used over the next two weeks, three sections bear the names of personalities and families who have played an important role in the history and development of Swiss biathlon.
First of all, there’s “Baselgia Hill”, named after the family that has helped cross-country skiing and biathlon develop in the Lenzerheide region for decades. Whether it’s the creation of the Bual Lantsch cross-country skiing club (1971), the launch of the Biathlon Arena Lenzerheide project (2006) or the world championships, the Baselgias have always been a driving force. In fact, Silvio Baselgia is the competition’s sporting director.
Then there’s Hartweg Hill. The fact that Lenzerheide is not just a biathlon centre, but also a sports centre of the highest standards, is thanks above all to Michael and Carola Hartweg. This sporting couple have made huge investments in the area, and the Roland Arena is their baby.
Their passion for biathlon and its development in Switzerland is immense. Even today, the Hartwegs are personally involved, for example in their Mission Biathlon foundation and in the Biathlon Stützpunkt Ostschweiz (BSO), a private team. Niklas Hartweg, their son, has gone from the BSO to the top of the world. When he climbs the longest and most difficult climb at the world championships, it will bear his family’s name.
Finally, there’s the section called “Gasparin Dream”. It was obviously named after the three Gasparin sisters, who helped shape biathlon in Switzerland. Selina, the eldest, is not only regarded as a pioneer of Swiss biathlon, but she also achieved historic firsts by winning the World Cup and winning the only Swiss medal at a major event to date (Olympic silver in the individual event in 2014).
Elisa and Aita followed the same path, and the Gasparin sisters were in the national team together for years until Selina retired after the 2022 Olympics. In relays, with Lena Haecki-Gross, they celebrated several World Cup podiums. In 2016, the Gasparins moved from the Engadine to Lenzerheide. Aita and Elisa as athletes, and Selina as ambassador , will now be able to experience the World Championships at home.
Map of the competition site at the Roland Arena in Lenzerheide
Map of the different loops used at the Lenzerheide 2025 World Championships
1.5 km
2 km
2.5 km
3 km
3.3 km
4 km
The full programme for the 2025 Biathlon World Championships in Lenzerheide 🇨🇭
Wednesday 12 February
- 2.30pm: mixed relay
Friday 14 February
- 3.05pm: women’s 7.5 km sprint
Saturday 15 February
- 3.05pm: Men’s 10km sprint
Sunday 16 February
- 12.05pm: Women’s 10 km pursuit
- 3.05pm: Men’s 12.5 km pursuit
Tuesday 18 February
- 3.05pm: Women’s 15km individual
Wednesday 19 February
- 3.05pm: Men’s 20km individual
Thursday 20 February
- 4.05pm: Mixed single relay
Saturday 22 February
- 12.05pm: Women’s 4×6 km relay
- 3.05pm: Men’s 4×7.5km relay
Sunday 23 February
- 1.45pm: women’s 12.5 km mass-start
- 4.05pm: men’s 15km mass-start
- Training, shooting trials, competitions, ceremonies: the full programme for the Lenzerheide 2025 World Championships
- First for Océane Michelon and Emilien Claude, the selected managers, the sixth women’s ticket to be awarded: the French selection for the world championships in Lenzerheide.
- Sophie Chauveau wins the sixth and final women’s ticket in the French team for the world championships in Lenzerheide
- Oscar Lombardot selected for the world championships in Lenzerheide as seventh man
- Last bib before the world championships in Lenzerheide: the full start lists for the French Cup sprints at La Féclaz
- French Cup at La Féclaz: Julia Simon prepares for the Worlds by dominating the sprint ahead of Jeanne Richard and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet
- La Féclaz: French Cup sprint for Quentin Fillon-Maillet, Eric Perrot and Emilien Claude on the podium ahead of Emilien Jacquelin and Fabien Claude
- “It’s an event I’ve been waiting for”: after his victory at La Féclaz, Quentin Fillon-Maillet is ambitious ahead of the World Championships in Lenzerheide.
- Les Bleus head for the world championships: the French team reaches Lenzerheide this Sunday afternoon
