Biathlon is moving from the mountains to the city this weekend as the inaugural Loop One Festival brings the sport’s biggest stars to Munich’s Olympic Park. Norway is sending a team of nine athletes.

On Sunday, October 19, the new biathlon event will kick off the Olympic season in a unique urban setting with a Super Sprint competition open to the public and *free for fans to attend.

Also Read: Biathlon starts ready for Munich’s Loop One Festival

Superstars competing

Norway is sending nine biathletes to the pre-season event in Germany, including biathlon star Martin Uldal:

“It’s exciting to be part of something new that shows our sport in a slightly different way. I think the atmosphere in Munich will be great,” says UIdal.

Also Read: Biathlon talent Uldal eyes Olympics — But coach issues clear message

Per Arne Botnan, national team manager of the Norwegian Biathlon Association, in a press release, added:

“This will be a unique arena to showcase biathlon in a new way – close to the audience, in the middle of a big city and with a high-tempo format that suits both athletes and fans. We are fielding a team that combines routine, energy and a great desire to compete.”

Also Read: Biathlon talent shocks the sport – Retires immediately at just 28 years old

Super Sprint format explained

The Loop One Festival will feature the fast-paced Super Sprint, a format designed to deliver maximum action for fans in a short race.

The competition begins with qualification heats, each with 15 athletes starting together. Over three 1.8 km loops around Munich’s Olympic Lake, athletes face two shooting bouts — first prone, then standing — with no spare rounds available. Every missed shot means a 60-meter penalty loop. The top three finishers from each heat, along with the three fastest “lucky losers,” advance to the final.

The final brings together 15 athletes for five laps of the 1.8 km course, with four trips to the shooting range: prone, prone, standing, standing. As in the heats, accuracy is critical, as every missed target adds a penalty loop. The combination of short loops, high shooting pressure, and city-center atmosphere makes the Super Sprint one of the most spectator-friendly formats in biathlon.

Event program

For the complete event program and further information, please visit the official Loop One Festival website.

*According to the event’s organization, admission is free throughout the festival grounds and along the route on October 19; tickets are only required for the shooting range and grandstand areas. For further information, please visit https://www.looponefestival.com.

Norwegian Team

Women

• Maren Hjelmeset Kirkeeide
• Karoline Knotten
• Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold
• Ragnhild Femsteinevik

Men

• Vebjørn Sørum
• Sturla Holm Lægreid
• Martin Uldal
• Johannes Dale-Skjevdal
• Isak Frey

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