Norway was fighting for a possible relay victory in the mixed relay in Östersund. But it turned into another penalty loop for Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, who already had three penalty loops in Saturday’s women’s relay.

“I held my breath a little too long,” that is how Norway’s anchor explains why she had to ski a penalty loop.

“It was much better than yesterday, and I wasn’t as nervous. I didn’t really feel like I had to make up for yesterday,” she said, according to Langrenn.com, after taking Norway to 3rd place behind France and Italy.

Tandrevold faced the most challenging possible opponents on the anchor leg. Lou Jeanmonnot for France and Lisa Vittozzi for Italy were nowhere near penalty loops, and with that, Norway’s winning chances disappeared on the final standing stage.

“But I feel like things are improving, and I was happy with my speed on the skis,” says Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold.

Fast men

The Norwegian men were changed entirely from Saturday’s relay. Mass start World Champion Endre Strømsheim looked like a completely different athlete compared to when he struggled at the season opener in Geilo.

“That was the plan,” he smiles after Norway exchanged in the lead group after the opening leg.

Johan-Olav Botn also showed that he intends to continue at this level. After excellent shooting, the biathlete from western Norway went full gas and dropped top athletes like Campbell Wright and Eric Perrot on the final lap.

That put Norway in the lead halfway through the relay.

Knotten all smiles

Karoline Knotten surprised most by pushing past Justine Braisaz-Bouchet on the finishing straight. She kept the lead by a few centimeters and impressed once again.

Knotten probably had the biggest smile of everyone afterwards. She truly proved that she belongs on the Norwegian national team.

“It was really fun to fight side by side with Braisaz-Bouchet at the end,” she said. The duo also left Dorothea Wierer 10 seconds behind.

And Norway stayed in the fight for victory until Tandrevold had a penalty in the standings. Still, 3rd place means Norway reached the podium in both of Sunday’s relays in Östersund.

France won the mixed relay, 25 seconds ahead of Italy, with Norway 1:05 back.

Also Read
France secures mixed relay victory in Östersund
Sweden leads the way in the Östersund single mixed relay

After a rest day, the women’s 15km individual takes place today, Tuesday, December 2.

On Wednesday, December 3, it is time for the men’s 20km individual. The sprint races will follow at the end of the week, with the women on Friday, December 5, and the men on Saturday, December 6. The Östersund week concludes with pursuit races for both women and men on Sunday, December 7.

Tuesday, December 2: Women 15km Individual (more information can be found HERE)

• 15:30 CET: 15km Individual, Women

The start list can be found HERE FOR 15KM INDIVIDUAL

FACTS Östersund World Cup Season 2025/2026

• 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: Women 4x6km Relay and Men 4×7.5km Relay (more information can be found HERE)

• 13:15 CET: Women 4x6km Relay 
• 16:55 CET: Men 4×7.5km Relay 

Sunday, November 30: Single Mixed Relay (M+W) and Mixed Relay (M+W) (more information can be found HERE and HERE)

• 14:00 CET: Single Mixed Relay (M+W)
• 16:40 CET: Mixed Relay (M+W)

Tuesday, December 2: Women 15km Individual (more information can be found HERE)

• 15:30 CET: 15km Individual, Women

Wednesday, December 3: Men 20km Individual (more information can be found HERE)

• 15:30 CET: 20km Individual, Men

Friday, December 5: Women 7.5km Sprint (more information can be found HERE)

• 16:00 CET: 7.5km Sprint, Women

Saturday, December 6: Men 10km Sprint (more information can be found HERE)

• 16:30 CET: 10km Sprint, Men

Sunday, December 7: Women 10km Pursuit and Men 12.5km Pursuit (more information can be found HERE)

• 13:15 CET: Women 10km Pursuit
• 15:20 CET: Men 12.5km Pursuit

After Östersund, the biathlon World Cup continues in Hochfilzen (Austria), then Annecy – Le Grand Bornand (France), before heading to Oberhof (Germany), Ruhpolding (Germany), Nové Město na Moravě (Czech Republic), and Antholz–Anterselva (Italy) for the Winter Olympic Games. The post-Olympic stages will take place in Kontiolahti (Finland) and Otepää (Estonia). The 2025/2026 World Cup season ends in Oslo Holmenkollen (Norway).

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

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