In the sprint, most of the top names need 10 hits on the range. A very few athletes might be able to win with one, or on rare occasions, two penalty loops. That offers opportunities for quick skiers. But you also need to be quick on the range. It’s easy to lose 10-15 seconds just in one shooting. 

Friday, February 13: Men 10km Sprint (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:00 CET: 10km Sprint, Men

The start list can be found HERE

ABOUT FRIDAY’S RACE 

The distance is 10km, and the athletes are starting individually with 30 seconds between each other. There are two shooting, first five shots in the prone and then five in the standing position after the next lap. No extra bullets when missing a target. 

For each missed target, you must do one penalty loop of 150 meters extra. It takes 20-25 seconds extra. And with competition time not much over 20 minutes, you understand that you cannot do many penalty loops before you lose your chance. 

The sprint is also very important because the result makes the starting list for the Pursuit race. 

Olympic Champions 10km sprint 

• 1980 (Lake Placid): Frank Ullrich, DDR 
• 1984 (Sarajevo): Eirik Kvalfoss, Norway 
• 1988 (Calgary): Frank-Peter Rötsch, DDR 
• 1992 (Albertville): Mark Kirchner, Germany 
• 1994 (Lillehammer):  Sergej Tsjepikov, Russia 
• 1998 (Nagano): Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Norway 
• 2002 (Salt Lake City): Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Norway 
• 2006 (Torino): Sven Fischer, Germany 
• 2010 (Vancouver): Vincent Jay, France 
• 2014 (Sochi): Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Norway 
• 2018 (PyeongChang): Arnd Peiffer, Germany 
• 2022 (Beijing): Johannes Thingnes Bø, Norway 

World Champions 10km sprint 

• 1974 Juhani Suutarinen, Finland 
• 1975 Nikolay Kruglov, Soviet Union
• 1976 Alexander Tikhonov, Soviet Union
• 1977 Alexander Tikhonov, Soviet Union
• 1978 Frank Ullrich, DDR 
• 1979 Frank Ullrich, DDR 
• 1981 Frank Ullrich, DDR 
• 1982 Eirik Kvalfoss, Norway 
• 1983 Eirik Kvalfoss, Norway 
• 1985 Frank-Peter Rötsch, DDR 
• 1986 Valeriy Medvedtsev, Soviet Union
• 1987 Frank-Peter Rötsch, DDR 
• 1989 Frank Luck, DDR 
• 1990 Mark Kirchner, DDR 
• 1991 Mark Kirchner, Germany 
• 1993 Mark Kirchner, Germany 
• 1995 Patrice Bailly-Salins, France 
• 1996 Vladmir Dratchev, Russia 
• 1997 Wilfried Pallhuber, Italy 
• 1999 Frank Luck, Germany 
• 2000 Frode Andresen, Norway 
• 2001 Pavel Rostovtsev, Russia 
• 2003 Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Norway 
• 2004 Raphael Poiree, France 
• 2005 Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Norway 
• 2007 Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Norway 
• 2008 Maxim Tchoudov, Russia 
• 2009 Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Norway 
• 2011 Arnd Peiffer, Germany 
• 2012 Martin Fourcade, France 
• 2013 Emil Hegle Svendsen, Norway 
• 2015 Johannes Thingnes Bø, Norway 
• 2016 Martin Fourcade, France 
• 2017 Benedikt Doll, Germany 
• 2019 Johannes Thingnes Bø, Norway 
• 2020 Alexander Loginov, Russia 
• 2021 Martin Ponsiluoma, Sweden 
• 2023 Johannes Thingnes Bø, Norway 
• 2024 Sturla Holm Lægreid, Norway 
• 2025 Johannes Thingnes Bø, Norway 

FAVORITES 

Tommaso Giacomel, ITA 

One of the few athletes who could win with a penalty loop. Giacomel has shown enormous speed on the track. He is also shooting well, but has also delivered some not-so-good rounds. Home crowds will be an extra boost. Giacomel is leading the sprint World Cup. 

Johan-Olav Botn, NOR 

He showed growing form in the last World Cup in Nové Mesto and already won gold at the 20km Individual earlier this week. Botn is one of the absolute quickest skiers when he’s at his best. And his shooting has been on a high note this Winter. He was leading the World Cup before Christmas. 

 Also Read: Norwegian biathlon talent claims 20km Individual gold at Milano-Cortina 2026

Eric Perrot, FRA 

Never write off the French World Cup-leader. Perrot is good at all races. The question is whether he is quick enough versus the likes of Giacomel and Botn. Perrot has maybe better chances in the pursuit or mass start after this. But it’s not a surprise if he takes gold. 

OUTSIDERS 

Sebastian Samuelsson, SWE 

“Sebbe” is second in the sprint World Cup, and he has good speed. His problem this Winter has been to get away clean from the range. If he hits ten out of ten, he can fight for medals. But you also need good skis, a good body, and a bit of luck. 

Martin Ponsiluoma, SWE 

Former World Champion in Sprint. Ponsiluoma often tops the list of the quickest skiers. That tells us, of course, that he can win with clean shooting. It’s been too long between the clean races this Winter, but if the Swede can manage a perfect shooting, he will be hard to beat. 

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. 

Emilien Jacquelin, FRA 

You never know about Jacquelin. He can do fantastic races and the next day be one of the last ones. He was shooting clean at the last World Cup in Nové Mesto, but was surprisingly beaten by his teammate Eric Perrot.  

Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, NOR 

Needed to take the long way to the Olympics. After a bad start to the season, he found himself on the IBU Cup. Three straight wins there brought him back to the highest level. And back there, he impressed everybody. It may have been the best final lap of them all.  

You will find the start lists 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