The longest distance is one of the hardest to predict for the biathletes. The only race without penalty loops is the race where you get the most back for being a good shooter. It’s hard to make up one full minute in the tracks. But that’s what you must do if you miss a target. 

France and Norway have dominated the men’s 20km Individual in biathlon over the last few years. It can be them again. 

Tuesday, February 10: Men 20km Individual (More information can be found HERE)

• 13:30 CET: 20km Individual, Men

The start list can be found HERE

ABOUT TODAY’S RACE 

The individual is the longest and oldest competition in biathlon, with a 20km race for men. The start interval is 30 seconds. There is no penalty loop. Each missed target adds a minute to the final time. 

Athletes shoot first in the prone position, then standing, prone, and standing again. Five shots each time. The best time in the finish – with eventual penalty minutes added – is the winner of the race. 

Olympic Champions 20km Individual 

• 1960 (Squaw Valley): Klas Lestander, Sweden 
• 1964 (Innsbruck): Vladimir Malanjin, Soviet Union
• 1968 (Grenoble): Magnar Solberg, Norway 
• 1972 (Sapporo): Magnar Solberg, Norway 
• 1976 (Innsbruck): Nikolaj Kruglov, Soviet Union
• 1980 (Lake Placid): Anatolij Aljabjev, Soviet Union 
• 1984 (Sarajevo): Peter Angerer, BRD 
• 1988 (Calgary): Frank-Peter Rötsch, DDR 
• 1992 (Albertville): Evgenij Redkin, OSS 
• 1994 (Lillehammer): Sergej Tarasov, Russia 
• 1998 (Nagano): Halvard Hanevold, Norway 
• 2002 (Salt Lake City): Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Norway 
• 2006 (Torino): Michael Greis, Germany 
• 2010 (Vancouver): Emil Hegle Svendsen, Norway 
• 2014 (Sochi):  Martin Fourcade, France 
• 2018 (PyeongChang): Johannes Thingnes Bø, Norway 
• 2022 (Beijing): Quentin Fillon Maillet, France 

World Champions 20km Individual 

• 1958    Adolf Wiklund, Sweden 
• 1959    Vladimir Melanin, Soviet Union
• 1961    Kalevi Huuskonen, Finland 
• 1962    Vladimir Melanin, Soviet Union
• 1963    Vladimir Melanin, Soviet Union
• 1965    Olav Jordet, Norway 
• 1966    Jon Isatd, Norway 
• 1967    Viktor Mamatov, Soviet Union
• 1969    Alexander Tikhonov, Soviet Union
• 1970    Alexander Tikhonov, Soviet Union
• 1971    Dieter Speer, DDR 
• 1973    Alexander Tikhonov, Soviet Union
• 1974    Juhani Suutarinen, Finland 
• 1975    Heikki Ikola, Finland 
• 1977    Heikki Ikola, Finland 
• 1978    Odd Lirhus, Norway 
• 1979    Klaus Siebert, DDR 
• 1981    Heikki Ikola, Finland 
• 1982    Frank Ullrich, DDR 
• 1983    Frank Ullrich, DDR 
• 1985    Yuri Kashkarov, Soviet Union
• 1986    Valeriy Medvedtsev, Soviet Union
• 1987    Frank-Peter Rötsch, DDR 
• 1989    Eirik Kvalfoss, Norway 
• 1990    Valeriy Medvedtsev, Soviet Union
• 1991    Mark Kirchner, Germany 
• 1993    Andreas Zingerle, Italy 
• 1995    Tomasz Sikora, Poland 
• 1996    Sergei Tarasov, Russia 
• 1997    Ricco Gross, Germany 
• 1999    Sven Fischer, Germany 
• 2000    Wolfgang Rottmann, Austria 
• 2001    Paavo Puurunen, Finland 
• 2003    Halvard Hanevold, Norway 
• 2004    Raphael Poiree, France 
• 2005    Roman Dostal, Czechia 
• 2007    Raphael Poiree, France 
• 2008    Emil Hegle Svendsen, Norway 
• 2009    Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Norway 
• 2011    Tarjei Bø, Norway 
• 2012    Jakov Fak, Slovenia 
• 2013    Martin Fourcade, France 
• 2015    Martin Fourcade, France 
• 2016    Martin Fourcade, France 
• 2017    Lowell Bailey, USA 
• 2019    Arnd Peiffer, Germany 
• 2020    Martin Fourcade, France 
• 2021    Sturla Holm Lægreid, Norway 
• 2023    Johannes Thingnes Bø, Norway 
• 2024    Johannes Thingnes Bø, Norway 
• 2025    Eric Perrot, France 

FAVORITES 

Eric Perrot, FRA 

Reigning World champion and the leader of the Individual World Cup. Perrot is always doing well in races, and he is both fast on the track and a very good shooter. He is one of the most complete biathletes, and his consistency is making him a major favorite again. 

Tommaso Giacomel, ITA 

Lost the lead on the overall World Cup to Perrot at the last World Cup round in Nové Mesto. But Giacomel is very fast and one of the few athletes who can win or get a medal even with one or two missed shots. The home crowd is either going to help him or make him extra nervous. 

Johan-Olav Botn, NOR 

A gold candidate if he can find the form he had at the beginning of the season. Botn came like a fire to the opener in Östersund. But sickness over New Year and the tragic death of teammate Sivert Guttorm Bakken, when Botn was the one who found him dead, has made it difficult the last month. Showed in Nové Mesto that he is on the way back to shape. And if he finds that he is probably the best skier of them all. 

OUTSIDERS 

Emilien Jacquelin, FRA 

Always dangerous, but you never know with Jacquelin. Suddenly, he delivers 20 hits, like in the last short individual in Nové Mesto. He was, anyway, beaten by Perrot, who also shot clean. Few athletes are mixing top results with bottom races like Jacquelin. But never write him off. 

Sebastian Samuelsson, SWE 

The shooting hasn’t been up to the normal standard for “Sebbe”, who is sitting in 7th on the overall World Cup list. But he has the experience, the speed needed, and if he can put his shooting together, he is a potential medalist. 

Martin Uldal, NOR 

Got famous for his quick shooting last season. This Winter, he has spent more time on the range and has hit more. Splendid start to the season, but there are question marks around his form lately. If the pre-camp has done him good, he is also a potential medal candidate. 

Sturla Holm Lægreid, NOR 

Last year’s World Cup-winner was struggling more this year. Lægreid is supposed to be the star of the Norwegian team once the Bø brothers are no longer there. But he needs to step up from the previous races this Winter. The 20 km is normally one of his best chances; he is a good shooter. Won the World champs at this distance five years ago.  

Quentin Fillon Maillet, FRA 

The champion’s experience is his best weapon. But like Lægreid, he has also been one step under the previous years this Winter. But Fillon Maillet is a racer who always finds his form for the important competitions, so he could very well be there again.  

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

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.

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