Biathlon is moving from the mountains to the city this October as the inaugural Loop One Festival brings the sport’s biggest stars to Munich’s Olympic Park.

On Sunday, October 19, the new biathlon event will kick off the Olympic season in a unique urban setting with a Super Sprint competition open to the public and *free for fans to attend.

The women’s start list features nearly the entire top of last season’s World Cup standings. Overall winner and Bavarian hometown favorite Franziska Preuss will headline, joined by her German teammate Selina Grotian. The field also includes Lou Jeanmonnot of France, runner-up in the 2023/2024 total score, along with returning athletes Lisa Vittozzi (ITA), back from injury, and Janina Hettich-Walz (GER), back from maternity leave.

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Franziska Preuss is excited about racing so close to home:

“It will be amazing to race there. Munich is the closest big city to Ruhpolding, so it’s really nearby, and the Olympic Park is such a unique and special venue. Hopefully, the weather will be good, and I’m looking forward to seeing lots of fans outside. There’s also a great programme alongside the race, so maybe some new people will discover biathlon live — and hopefully they’ll cheer for us during the winter season as well,” Preuss says in a press release from the International Biathlon Union (IBU).

Lou Jeanmonnot sees the festival as a refreshing way to connect with the fans:

“For the fans, a summer race brings something new and could certainly introduce something more regular in the future. I also hope that we can all enjoy this celebration together with warm and sunny weather. For me, it will be an opportunity to try new things, to enjoy a race with a little less stress, and maybe also to feel freer to spend time with athletes from other countries.”

Men’s competition promises equal star power. Overall World Cup winner Sturla Holm Lægreid (NOR) leads the field, joined by Germany’s Philipp Nawrath and Justus Strelow, both medalists at last season’s World Championships. France will line up its strongest athletes, while rising talents Tommaso Giacomel (ITA) and Campbell Wright (USA) add to the international depth.

Lægreid is curious about what awaits in Munich:

“Loop One Festival sounds fun! I don’t really know what to expect, but it will be great to see all the other athletes from the other nations again. Starting the Olympic season like this is interesting. I think we will see different power dynamics than we do in the winter, and maybe it will bring more excitement going into the season.

I’ve never been to the Olympic Park in Munich, so I’m looking forward to it! It’s going to be a special experience to rollerski through the landscape, and I’ll have to remind myself not to get lost staring at the scenery.”

The festival kicks off one day earlier, on Saturday, October 18, with elite Para Biathlon and youth competitions.

Alongside the races, Loop One will feature live concerts, workout sessions, interactive events, and the chance for fans to meet German biathlon legends Magdalena Neuner, Arnd Peiffer, and Benedikt Doll. The event also aims to showcase sustainable practices, blending elite sport, culture, and entertainment in a single urban festival.

Read More: Program for biathlon at the Milano-Cortina 2025 Winter Olympics

Super Sprint format explained

The Loop One Festival will feature the fast-paced Super Sprint, a format designed to deliver maximum action for fans in a short race.

The competition begins with qualification heats, each with 15 athletes starting together. Over three 1.8 km loops around Munich’s Olympic Lake, athletes face two shooting bouts — first prone, then standing — with no spare rounds available. Every missed shot means a 60-meter penalty loop. The top three finishers from each heat, along with the three fastest “lucky losers,” advance to the final.

The final brings together 15 athletes for five laps of the 1.8 km course, with four trips to the shooting range: prone, prone, standing, standing. As in the heats, accuracy is critical, as every missed target adds a penalty loop. The combination of short loops, high shooting pressure, and city-center atmosphere makes the Super Sprint one of the most spectator-friendly formats in biathlon.

Event program

For the complete event program and further information, please visit the official Loop One Festival website.

*According to the event’s organization, admission is free throughout the festival grounds and along the route on October 19; tickets are only required for the shooting range and grandstand areas. For further information, please visit https://www.looponefestival.com.

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