Loop One Biathlon Festival

The 2025 Biathlon season kicks off in spectacular style with the Biathlon Loop One Festival, held in Munich's iconic Olympiapark from 18-19 October 2025.

This brand-new festival blends elite sport, live entertainment, and fan-friendly access for an unforgettable start to the winter season.

Biathlon Event Facts

• Location: Olympiapark, Munich, Germany
• Dates: 18 -19 October 2025
• Series: Official Biathlon Season Opening
• Streaming: Live and on demand, free on Eurovision Sport

Loop One Biathlon Schedule

All event times are listed in local Munich time (CEST) and are subject to change.

Sunday, 19 Oct 2025 (Local Times)	Event
10:00 - 11:00	Course preparation and warm-up
11:00 -12:00	Qualification Races - Men (Super Sprint)
12:00 -13:00	Qualification Races - Women (Super Sprint)
15:30	Super Sprint Final - Men
16:15	Super Sprint Final - Women

A New Chapter for Biathlon Events: The Loop One Festival

The Loop One Festival marks a bold new chapter for biathlon. Designed as a dynamic, fan-first season opener, the event brings the sport out of its traditional winter mountain setting and into the heart of a major European city.

Created by the International Biathlon Union (IBU) in collaboration with local organisers in Munich, the festival aims to make biathlon more accessible, urban, and interactive, blending world-class sport with a true festival atmosphere.

What Makes the Loop One Different

• Urban Biathlon Experience: The action takes place in Munich's Olympiapark, transforming an Olympic venue into a temporary shooting range and ski loop.
• Closer Fan Access: Spectators can enjoy the races without a ticket in open festival areas, with ticketed grandstand seating available for the Super Sprints.
• Meet the German Biathletes in Munich: Magdalena Neuner, Arnd Peiffer, and Benedikt Doll.
• Festival Meets Sport: The weekend combines live music, athlete showcases, and fan zones, turning the season opener into a celebration of biathlon culture.
• New Format Focus: The Super Sprint format offers short, high-intensity races, making biathlon faster and more engaging for new audiences.

This new format not only celebrates the start of the biathlon season but also sets a blueprint for how the sport can connect with urban audiences - merging competition, entertainment, and accessibility like never before.

What is the Biathlon Super Sprint

The Super Sprint is biathlon at its fastest and most thrilling. With short loops, rapid-fire shooting, and constant position changes, it's built for excitement and city crowds.

Format Overview:

• 15 athletes compete head-to-head
• 5 laps of a 1.8 km course
• 4 shooting bouts: prone, prone, standing, standing

This compact race format delivers all the intensity of biathlon - perfect for the fast-paced energy of the Loop One Festival.

Top Biathletes in Munich

The first event of the new biathlon season brings together world-class talent from across Europe. Expect Olympic legends, rising stars, and fan favourites all aiming to make an early impact on the 2025 campaign.

Female Biathletes to Watch

Franziska Preuss (GER)

Fresh off her gold medal in the 10 km pursuit and silver in the sprint at the 2025 World Championships in Lenzerheide, Franziska Preuss arrives in Munich as one of the top contenders. Her clean 20/20 shooting and strong finishing speed make her one of Germany's most dependable biathletes.

Selina Grotian (GER)

One of Germany's most exciting young prospects, Selina Grotian is coming off an impressive first World Cup podium in 2024 and won four gold medals at the Junior World Championships (2023). Her composure on the range and rapid progress on skis mark her as one to watch in the Super Sprint format.

Lou Jeanmonnot (FRA)

Jeanmonnot finished fourth in the pursuit at the 2025 World Championships, narrowly missing the podium after leading much of the race. With four gold world championship medals, she continues to anchor France's powerful women's team.

Lisa Vittozzi (ITA)

The 2023/24 World Cup Overall Champion, Vittozzi remains one of the most accurate shooters on the circuit, regularly posting over 90% hit rates. Her experience and composure make her a consistent threat across all formats.

Janina Hettich-Walz (GER)

A steady presence in the German lineup, Hettich-Walz earned World Championship silver in the 2021 relay and continues to deliver strong performances in team events.

Her precision and consistency make her a valuable asset for Germany's relay squads and shorter formats like the Super Sprint.

Male Biathletes to Watch

Sturla Holm Laegreid (NOR)

A seven-time World Champion and world champion of the men's sprint in 2024, he remains one of the sport's most accurate marksmen and a perennial favourite for podium finishes.

Justus Strelow (GER)

A sharpshooting specialist, Justus Strelow achieved second place in the Östersund Individual (2023/24) (his first World Cup podium) and remains one of the most accurate shooters on tour. His reliability makes him a crucial part of Germany's relay strategy.

Campbell Wright (USA)

Wright delivered a breakout performance at the 2025 World Championships, winning silver in the men's 10 km sprint, just behind Johannes Thingnes Bø.

The Venue: München Olympiapark

A symbol of sport and culture, Olympiapark Munich was built for the 1972 Olympic Games and has since hosted decades of international events, from athletics to motorsport and major concerts. Its scenic layout and open design make it the perfect backdrop for the Loop One Festival.

Venue Highlights

• Hosted 30+ World Championships and 20+ European Championships
• Purpose-built for open-air fan zones and large-scale sporting events

Watch More Biathlon Live on Eurovision Sport

Catch every moment of the Biathlon Loop One Festival and follow the world's top biathlon action all winter long; live and free on Eurovision Sport.

Upcoming Biathlon Highlights on Eurovision Sport

• BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup - Full-season coverage of the world's leading biathlon series.
• City Biathlon - Athletes race on roller skis through city streets in a fast-paced summer showcase of biathlon skill.
• BMW IBU Biathlon World Championships - The season's ultimate test for the world's best athletes.

Stream live races, replays, and highlights anytime on Eurovision Sport.