The Biathlon World Championships continues today in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, with the single mixed relay. Discover how the race works and who the top contenders for gold are!

The newest and quickest event at the Biathlon World Championships. It has only been on the program since 2019, but the single mixed relay has already been popular.

Nowadays, it’s the only event on the day. It has previously been raced on the same day as the mixed relay. But by standing alone on the program the teams can now use their absolute best athletes. This has made the competition harder, and the way to a medal is more difficult than before.

In the single mixed relay, teams have one woman and one man per country competing over a total distance of 6km for the first starter and 7.5km for the second with four shooting stops each. The lap is 1.5km for both women and men, while the penalty loop is only 75 meters long.

Just as in the regular relays, athletes have three spare rounds to load manually in case of missed shots. The first athlete starts the competition and tags the other athlete after the first two shooting stops (prone and standing). The handover is done directly after the range/penalty loop exit. The IBU Technical Committee decides whether the men or the women begin the competition.

FORMER WORLD CHAMPIONS

• 2019    NOR, (Marte Olsbu Røiseland, Johannes Thingnes Bø)
• 2020    NOR, (Marte Olsbu Røiseland, Johannes Thingnes Bø)
• 2021    FRA, (Antonin Guigonnat, Julia Simon)
• 2023    NOR, (Marte Olsbu Røiseland, Johannes Thingnes Bø)
• 2024    FRA, (Quentin Fillon Maillet, Lou Jeanmonnot)

FAVORITES

• FRANCE

Reigning champions. Have a lot of top athletes to choose from, both in the men’s and women’s team. They are fast shooters and quick skiers. And the results in relays have been super this season.

• NORWAY

Have won three out of 5 editions of this event. All the times with Marte Olsbu Røiseland and Johannes Thingnes Bø. Røiseland has retired and the question for Norway is if they can follow France on the women’s leg.

• SWEDEN

They are one of the fastest skiing teams, but for Sweden, it’s all about not using too many spare rounds and avoiding the penalty loop. If they do that, they can beat everybody.

OUTSIDERS

GERMANY

Have had a good team with Voigt and Strelow, but now Vanessa Voigt is out. The Germans have other ladies available at the same level, but are they quick enough in the track on the men’s side?

AUSTRIA

During the last years, Lisa Theresa Hauser and Simon Eder have been their team. They have achieved very good results, but Eder is probably not fast enough longer after he has turned 41 (soon 42).

ITALY

Of course, the Italians are missing Lisa Vittozzi a lot. But Tommasso Giacomel is a man who can be on top here and with the likes of Dorothea Wierer everything is in play for this team.

FINLAND

A surprise winner in this event in Oberhof. Suvi Minkkinen and Tero Seppälä went all the way for the first time. Can they repeat it on the biggest stage? May be gold is too much to ask, but a medal will be no big surprise for a strong Finnish team this year.

START LIST

The complete start list can be found HERE and HERE

Also Read – Biathlon World Championships 2025: Complete program for Lenzerheide

FACTS Lenzerheide Biathlon World Championships Season 2024/2025

• When: Wednesday, February 12 to Sunday, February 23, 2025 
• Who: Elite national biathletes – women and men
• Where: Lenzerheide, Switzerland
• What: IBU World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland

PROGRAM

Wednesday, February 12: Mixed Relay (W+M) (More details can be found HERE)

• 14:30 CET: Mixed Relay, Women+Men

Friday, February 14: 7.5km Sprint W (More details can be found HERE)

• 15:05 CET: 7.5km Sprint, Women

Saturday, February 15: 10km Sprint M (More details can be found HERE)

• 15:05 CET: 10km Sprint, Men

Sunday, February 16: 10km Pursuit W and 12.5km Pursuit M (More details can be found HERE)

• 12:05 CET: 10km Pursuit, Women
• 15:05 CET: 12.5km Pursuit, Men

Tuesday, February 18: 15km Individual W (More details can be found HERE)

• 15:05 CET: 15km Individual, Women

Wednesday, February 19: 20km Individual M (More details can be found HERE)

• 15:05 CET: 20km Individual, Men

Thursday, February 20: Single Mixed Relay (W+M) (More details can be found HERE)

• 16:05 CET: Single Mixed Relay, Woman+Man

Saturday, February 22: 4x6km Relay W and 4×7.5km Relay M (More details can be found HERE)

• 12:05 CET: 4x6km Relay, Women
• 15:05 CET: 4×7.5km Relay, Men

Sunday, February 23: 12.5km Mass Start W and 15km Mass Start M (More details can be found HERE)

• 13:45 CET: 12.5km Mass Start, Women
• 16:05 CET: 15km Mass Start, Men

After the World Championships in Lenzerheide (Switzerland), the biathlon World Cup heads to Nove Mesto Na Morave (Czech Republic) and Pokljuka (Slovenia). Then, the 2024/2025 World Cup season ends in Oslo (Norway).

Also Read: Biathlon World Cup and World Championships: Calendar for the 2024/2025 winter season

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