France has four very strong athletes and no weaknesses in its team. The same for Sweden, but it looks like the French women have hit the form better for the Olympics. 

But it’s always nervous with a relay, and experience is important when you race for a team. With three spare bullets, you can shoot the first five a little bit faster to try to save time. But you can probably not afford to give your team a penalty loop if you want to win. 

Wednesday, February 18: Women 4x6km Relay (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:45 CET: 4x6km Relay, Women

The start list can be found HERE

ABOUT WEDNESDAY’S RACE 

All starters compete over a 6km course. The first leg athletes have a mass start. All athletes are shooting twice: once in the prone and once in the standing position. They are shooting five shots. If they don’t hit all, they have three extra bullets to be loaded one by one. If they still have not hit all five targets, they must do the penalty loop, which takes about 20-25 seconds extra. The penalty loop is 150 meters long. 

Loading a spare bullet will take you around 10 seconds extra. They are shooting at 50 meters, and the targets are 45mm for prone (the black inner ring) and 115mm for standing (the full black ring). 

The first team to complete all four legs wins the relay. 

Women’s Olympic Champions – 4x6km Biathlon Relay (3x6km in 1992)  

• 1992: France, (Corinne Niogret, Veronique Claudel, Anne Briand 
• 1994: Russia, (Nadezjda Talanova, Natalja Snytina, Luiza Noskova, Anfisa Reztsova) 
• 1998: Germany, (Uschi Disl, Martina Zellner, Katrin Apel, Petra Behle) 
• 2002: Germany, (Katrin Apel, Uschi Disl, Andrea Henkel, Kati Wilhelm) 
• 2006: Russia, (Anna Bogali, Svetlana Ishmouratova, Olga Zaitseva, Albina Akhatova) 
• 2010: Russia, (Anna Bogali-Titovets, Olga Medvedtseva, Olga Zaitseva, Svetlana Sleptsova) 
• 2014: Ukraine, (Vita Semerenko, Julia Dzyma, Valentyna Semerenko, Olena Pidhrushna) 
• 2018: Belarus, (Nadezda Skardino, Iryna kryuko, Dzinara Alimgekava, Daria Domracheva) 
• 2022: Sweden, (Linn Persson, Mona Brorsson, Hanna Öberg, Elvira Öberg) 

Women’s World Champions – Biathlon Relay (4x6km) 

• 1984: Soviet Union, (Venera Chernyshova, Liudmila Zabolotnaya, Kaija Parve) 
• 1985: Soviet Union, (Venera Chernyshova, Elena Golovina, Kaija Parve) 
• 1986: Soviet Union, (Kaija Parve, Nadiya Bilova, Venera Chernyshova) 
• 1987: Soviet Union, (Elena Golovina, Venera Chernyshova, Kaija Parve) 
• 1988: Soviet Union, (Venera Chernyshova, Elena Golovina, Kaija Parve) 
• 1989: Soviet Union, (Natalia Prikazchikova, Svetlana Davidova, Elena Golovina) 
• 1990: Soviet Union, (Elena Gatsevich, Elena Golovina, Svetlana Davidova) 
• 1991: Soviet Union, (Elena Belova, Elena Golovina, Svetlana Davidova) 
• 1993: Czechia, (Jana Kulhava, Jirina Admickova, Iveta Knizkova, Eva Hakova) 
• 1995: Germany, (Uschi Disl, Antje Harvey, Simone Greiner-Petter-Memm, Petra Schaaf) 
• 1996: Germany, (Uschi Disl, Simone Greiner-Petter-Memm, Katrin Apel, Petra Behle) 
• 1997: Germany, (Uschi Disl, Simone Greiner-Petter-Memm, Katrin Apel, Petra Behle) 
• 1999: Germany, (Uschi Disl, Simone Greiner-Petter-Memm, Katrin Apel, Martina Zellner) 
• 2000: Russia, (Olga Pyleva, Svetlana Tchernousova, Galina Kukleva, Albina Akhatova) 
• 2001: Russia, (Olga Pyleva, Anna Bogali, Galina Kukleva, Svetlana Ishmouratova) 
• 2003: Russia, (Albina Akhatova, Svetlana Ishmouratova, Galina Kukleva, Svetlana Tchernousova) 
• 2004: Norway, (Linda Tjørhom, Gro Marit Istad Kristiansen, Gunn Margit Andreassen, Liv Grete Poiree) 
• 2005: Russia, (Olga Pyleva, Svetlana Ishmouratova, Anna Bogali-Titovets, Olga Zaitseva) 
• 2007: Germany, (Martina Glagow, Andrea Henkel, Magdalena Neuner, Kati Wilhelm) 
• 2008: Germany, (Martina Glagow, Andrea Henkel, Magdalena Neuner, Kati Wilhelm) 
• 2009: Russia, (Svetlana Sleptsova, Anna Boulygina, Olga Medvedtseva, Olga Zaitseva) 
• 2011: Germany, (Andrea Henkel, Miriam Gössner, Tina Bachmann, Magdalena Neuner) 
• 2012: Germany, (Tina Bachmann, Magdalena Neuner, Miriam Gössner, Andrea Henkel) 
• 2013: Norway, (Hilde Fenne, Ann Kristin Aafedt Flatland, Synnøve Solemdal, Tora Berger) 
• 2015: Germany, (Franziska Hildebrand, Franziska Preuss, Vanessa Hinz, Laura Dahlmeier) 
• 2016: Norway, (Synnøve Solemdal, Fanny Horn Birkeland, Tiril Eckhoff, Marte Olsbu) 
• 2017: Germany, (Vanessa Hinz, Maren Hammerschmidt, Franziska Hildebrand, Laura Dahlmeier) 
• 2019: Norway, (Synnøve Solemdal, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, Tiril Eckhoff, Marte Olsbu Røiseland) 
• 2020: Norway, (Synnøve Solemdal, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, Tiril Eckhoff, Marte Olsbu Røiseland) 
• 2021: Norway, (Synnøve Solemdal, Tiril Eckhoff, Ida Lien, Marte Olsbru Røiseland) 
• 2023: Italy, (Samuela Comola, Dorothea Wierer, Hannah Auchentaller, Lisa Vittozzi) 
• 2024: France, (Lou Jeanmonnot, Sophie Chauveau, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Julia Simon) 
• 2025: France, (Lou Jeanmonnot, Océane Michelon, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Julia Simon) 

FAVORITES 

FRANCE 

Surprisingly, without a medal in the pursuit race, but normally the best team. Julia Simon left out the pursuit and saved some power. Question marks for Braisaz-Bouchet’s shooting, but she is one of the quickest skiers. Océane Michelon and Lou Jeanmonnot were both on the podium in the sprint. 

SWEDEN 

Reigning champions from 2022, but they have not won a medal yet in Antholz. But there are signs that they are getting better. Elvira Öberg was the quickest skier in the pursuit, and Anna Magnusson was the third quickest. Linn Gestblom is back to old standard, and that’s a strength. And the gold to Martin Ponsiluoma has boosted the team. They can win again, but must avoid too many missed shots. 

ITALY 

World Champions from Oberhof 2023 and the last chance for local hero Dorothea Wierer, who climbed well in the pursuit race. Lisa Vittozzi’s gold also broke the ice, and they have the home crowd to help. But are the two others good enough? 

OUTSIDERS 

NORWAY 

Fantastic Olympics for the 22-year-old Maren Kirkeeide with gold and silver after failing in the shooting in the first two races. Knotten and Johansen are stable, but Norway has been crying for the shooting from Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold. Nine (!) penalties in the pursuit and substitute Juni Arnekleiv have not raced here. But she was on the team winning the relay in Ruhpolding. 

GERMANY 

Franziska Preuss, last year’s World Cup winner, is still chasing her individual medal here. Maybe a bigger chance with the team. Vanessa Voigt is shooting very well, but not fast enough on the skis. The others were very uneven in the range. 

You will find the start list HERE

Biathlon schedule – Milano-Cortina 2026

Sunday, February 8: Mixed Relay (M+W) (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:05 CET: Mixed Relay, Men + Women

Tuesday, February 10: Men 20km Individual (More information can be found HERE)

• 13:30 CET: 20km Individual, Men

Wednesday, February 11: Women 15km Individual (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:15 CET: 15km Individual, Women

Friday, February 13: Men 10km Sprint (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:00 CET: 10km Sprint, Men

Saturday, February 14: Women 7.5km Sprint (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:45 CET: 7.5km Sprint, Women

Sunday, February 15: Men 12.5km Pursuit and Women 10km Pursuit (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:15 CET: 12.5km Pursuit, Men
• 14:45 CET: 10km Pursuit, Women

Tuesday, February 17: Men 4×7.5km Relay (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:30 CET: 4×7.5km Relay, Men

Wednesday, February 18: Women 4x6km Relay (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:45 CET: 4x6km Relay, Women

Friday, February 20: Men 15km Mass Start (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:15 CET: 15km Mass Start, Men

Saturday, February 21: Women 12.5km Mass Start (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:15 CET: 12.5km Mass Start, Women

The complete program for the Winter Olympic Games can be found HERE

Antholz-Anterselva promises breathtaking courses for athletes and spectacular viewing for fans. With every shot and ski stride counting, the biathletes will aim for the podium in every race, making the biathlon one of the most eagerly watched events of the 2026 Winter Games.

Are you interested in biathlon? Click HERE and read more about it.

As a member of ProXCskiing.com, you get full access to all content on the site. Also, live streaming of Ski Classics events with English commentaries is available.

When you become part of one of the World’s leading XC ski communities, you will receive many exclusive offers all year round.

REGISTER HERE AS A MEMBER