This event is called the Formula 1 of biathlon. A fast and nervous race where you cannot afford to make many mistakes. You must also have good speed on the tracks and shoot quickly. It’s easy to lose 10-15 seconds just in shooting time every time on the range. That added to four shootings gives you 40-60 seconds extra. 

The Mass Start’s crucial moments for the podium are very often the last standing shooting when the nerves hit you, and your knees feel like rubber. And if you manage to hit all five targets, you need power left for the final lap. 

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

• 14:15 CET: 12.5km Mass Start, Women

The start list can be found HERE

ABOUT SATURDAY’S RACE 

In the Mass Start, 30 athletes start simultaneously and compete over 12.5km for women. There are four shooting stages: the first two in the prone position and the last two in the standing position. Each missed target gives you a penalty loop of 150 meters. The winner is the first athlete crossing the finish line. 

Which athletes qualify for the 30 places in the Mass Start is determined by previous results in the Games and by a special schedule set by the IBU. 

At the first shooting, the athletes will shoot at the target using their start number; the next times, they will fill up from target 1, for the first to enter the range, all the way to target 30. 

Olympic Champions – 12.5km Mass Start 

• 2006 (Torino): Anna Carin Olofsson, Sweden 
• 2010 (Vancouver): Magdalena Neuner, Germany 
• 2014 (Sochi): Daria Domracheva, Belarus 
• 2018 (PyeongChang): Anastasia Kuzmina, Slovakia 
• 2022 (Beijing): Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, France 

World Champions – 12.5km Mass Start 

• 1999: Olena Zubrilova, Ukraine 
• 2000: Liv Grete Skjelbreid, Norway 
• 2001: Magdalena Forsberg, Sweden 
• 2002: Olena Zubrilova, Ukraine 
• 2003: Albina Akhatova, Russia 
• 2004: Liv Grete Poiree, Norway 
• 2005: Gro Marti Istad Kristiansen, Norway 
• 2007: Andea Henkel, Germany 
• 2008: Magdalena Neuner, Germany 
• 2009: Olga Zaitseva, Russia 
• 2011: Magdalena Neuner, Germany 
• 2012: Tore Berger, Norway 
• 2013: Daria Domracheva, Belarus 
• 2015: Valentyna Semerenko, Ukraine 
• 2016: Marie Dorin Habert, France 
• 2017: Laura Dahlmeier, Germany 
• 2019: Dorothea Wierer, Italy 
• 2020: Marte Olsbu Røiseland, Norway 
• 2021: Lisa Therese Hauser, Austria 
• 2023: Hanna Öberg, Sweden 
• 2024: Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, France  
• 2025: Elvira Öberg, Sweden                 

FAVORITES 

Lou Jeanmonnot, France 

She is the best just now. A little bump in the pursuit race, but she has her medals and doesn’t have to feel the big pressure. Quick, secure shooting is her trademark, and don’t be surprised if she wins again. 

Elvira Öberg, Sweden 

Won the World Champs Mass Start in Lenzerheide last year. It has looked like Elvira Öberg is not in her best skiing form here in Antholz, even though she had the best skiing time in the pursuit race. The shooting has also been unstable. But it changes quickly in biathlon, and the relay silver was what she needed. 

Lisa Vittozzi, Italy 

Big hero when she won her gold medal. Vittozzi is probably the quickest of them all on the range. She is not the fastest skier, but she has the home crowd behind her, and she normally is up there fighting for the top spots. 

OUTSIDERS 

Hanna Öberg, Sweden 

She was last in the World Champs Mass Start last year when her sister won. That was a disaster. But she has been better over the last week, and Hanna secured silver in the Swedish relay with a strong performance on the last leg. She has the experience but needs to shoot clean or nearly clean. 

Maren Hjelmeset Kirkeeide, Norway 

Fantastic Olympics for the 22-year-old Norwegian. And this is the race where she broke through with a bronze medal at last year’s Worlds. But she has shown that her standing shooting can be a bit up and down. She needs to put that together if she wants another medal. 

Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, France 

Olympic and World Mass Start champion. With a skiing speed that few can keep up with. But her shooting has not been good this winter, and she was left out of the French team that won the relay. Top or bottom? Hard to tell. 

Julia Simon, France 

Had some stomach problems and didn’t start in the pursuit. But her anchor leg in the relay was top-notch. The shooting couldn’t have been better, and she was never threatened for the gold; she is absolutely a winning candidate. 

Oceane Michelon, France 

The youngster in the French women’s team has impressed in Antholz. Got her first gold in the relay and was narrowly beaten when she won silver in the sprint. All the French women in the race have medal potential. 

Suvi Minkkinen, Finland 

Not the quickest skier, but one of the best on the range. The Finnish star now has a medal, and some of the pressure is gone. The mass start format suits her well when she can hang on with the other athletes.  

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.

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