The biathlon World Cup season 2025/2026 starts this week. The Finnish national team is now named for the first week of the new winter season.

Östersund, Sweden, from November 29 to December 7, is the place for this year’s biathlon World Cup premiere.  

In a press release, the Finnish Biathlon Association has named their biathlon team for the first events of the Biathlon World Cup.

According to the Finnish Biathlon Association, “the Finnish team has prepared for the Olympic season under the guidance of a familiar coaching duo. Head coach Erik Torneus-Kulstad has coached the A-team together with Aku Moilanen. The training season’s camp program included three longer training periods at high altitude, and the team spent a lot of time in the Olympic mountains in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy. The camps were held in Kontiolahti in June and November.”

“During the training season, the national team’s training has focused particularly on uphills, teamwork, and managing competition situations. The priorities are the same as last season, which underlines the systematic focus on development targets. The A-team has also maintained a competitive feel during the training season by utilizing test competitions with national teams from other countries.”

“We have competed against most of the top teams already during the training season, so all the faces should be familiar in the first week of competition in Östersund. We have also spent more time on the uphill sections in the last two training seasons, so we expect to be better prepared for the Östersund course. I want to see the athletes do the work they have been training for and be disciplined despite the excitement of the first weeks of competition,” head coach Erik Torneus-Kulstad said about his expectations for the opening of the World Cup.

Also Read: Biathlon World Cup: Complete program for Östersund

Finnish Biathlon Team for the Östersund World Cup Season 2025/2026

Women

• Inka Hämäläinen
• Noora Kaisa Keränen
• Venla Lehtonen
• Sonja Leinamo
• Suvi Minkkinen

Men

• Tuomas Harjula
• Ollia Hiidensalo
• Kalle Loukkaanhuhta
• Turkka Nieminen
• Tero Seppälä

Below you can check all the facts about the biathlon premieres season 2025/2026.

FACTS Östersund Cup Season 2025/2026 (more information can be found HERE)

• When: Saturday, November 29 to Sunday, December 7 
• Who: Elite national biathletes – women and men
• Where: Östersund, Sweden
• What: IBU World Cup in Östersund, Sweden

PROGRAM

• Saturday, November 29, 13:15 CET: Women 4x6km Relay
• Saturday, November 29, 16:55 CET: Men 4×7.5km Relay
• Sunday, November 30, 14:00 CET: Single Mixed Relay (W+M)
• Sunday, November 30, 16:40 CET: Mixed Relay (M+W)
• Tuesday, December 2, 15:30 CET: Women 15km Individual
• Wednesday, December 3, 15:30 CET: Men 20km Individual
• Friday, December 5, 16:00 CET: Women 7.5km Sprint
• Saturday, December 6, 16:30 CET: Men 10km Sprint
• Sunday, December 7, 13:15 CET: Women 10km Pursuit
• Sunday, December 7, 15:15 CET: Men 12.5km Pursuit

Also Read – Biathlon World Cup: Calendar for the 2025/2026 winter season

FACTS IBU CUP Obertilliach Season 2025/2026 (more information can be found HERE)

• When: Thursday, December 4 to Sunday, December 7 
• Who: Elite national biathletes – women and men
• Where: Obertilliach, Austria
• What: IBU Cup Obertilliach, Austria

PROGRAM

• Thursday, December 4, 10:30 CET: Women 7.5km Sprint
• Thursday, December 4, 14:10 CET: Men 10km Sprint
• Saturday, December 6, 10:30 CET: Women 7.5km Sprint
• Saturday, December 6, 14:10 CET: Men 10km Sprint
• Sunday, December 7, 10:45 CET: Women 10km Pursuit
• Sunday, December 7, 13:30 CET: Men 12.5km Pursuit

Also Read – Biathlon IBU Cup: Calendar for the 2025/2026 winter season

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

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