In the article “Types of races in biathlon” we will tell about the variety of disciplines in biathlon, about their rules and features. The data is presented in the form of a summary table.
#Biathlon #ProBiathlon #AboutBiathlon #WinterSport
Biathlon is known for the fact that it has a large number of different disciplines. Our summary table will help you remember them all and understand how they differ from each other.
Before each event, the athlete must register, get on the entry list, go through a computer draw to determine the starting number, undergo a safety check, and sign declarations of consent (competition rules, anti-doping, etc.).
Types of races in biathlon
| Sportsmen’s group | Discipline | Start types and intervals | Circles | Number of firing ranges and penalties for misses | Intervals of firing ranges |
Men | Marathon 40 km | One at a time 30 seconds, 1 minute | 10 | Eight stages (the first four lying, then four standing). Penalty. – 75 meters. | Every 4 km |
| Race 20 km | One at a time 30 seconds, 1 minute | 5 | 4 stages with alternating lying / standing. Penalty – 1 minute. | Every 4 km | |
| Sprint 10 km | One at a time 30 seconds, 1 minute | 3 | 2 stages with the alternation lying / standing. Penalty. – 150 meters. | Every 3.3 km | |
| Pursuit race 12.5 km | At the end of the sprint | 5 | 4 stages (the first two lying, then two standing). Penalty. -150 meters. | Every 2.5 km | |
| Masstart 15 km | All together | 5 | 4 stages (the first two lying, then two standing). Penalty. – 150 meters. | Every 3 km | |
| Relay (4 persons x 7.5 km) | All together + passing the baton | 3 | Two stages each (lying, standing) + 3 additional cartridges. Penalty. – 150 meters. | Every 2.5 km | |
| Supersprint 5 km | All together | 5 | 4 stages (the first two lying, then two standing) + 1 additional round. Penalty. – 75 meters. | Each 1.0 km | |
| Superpass 7.5 km | At the end of the pursuit race | 5 | 4 stages (the first two lying, then two standing) + 3 additional cartridges. Penalty. – 75 meters. | Every 1.5 km | |
| Team race 10 km | All together 2 minutes | 3 | Two stages (lying, standing). Penalty. – 150 meters. | Every 3.3 km | |
Men + women | Mixed relay (2w x 6 km + 2m x 7.5 km) | All together + passing the baton (2w, 2m) | 3 | Two stages each (lying, standing) + 3 additional cartridges. Penalty. – 150 meters. | Women every 2 km, men every 2.5 km |
| Mixed relay (1w x 6.0 km + 1m x 7.5 km) | All together + passing the baton (1w, 1m) | 9 | Two stages each (lying, standing) + 3 additional cartridges. Penalty. – 75 meters | Every 1.5 km | |
Women | Marathon 30 km | One at a time 30 seconds, 1 minute | 10 | Eight stages (the first four lying, then four standing). Penalty. – 75 meters. | Every 3 km |
| Race 15 km | One at a time 30 seconds, 1 minute | 5 | 4 stages with alternating lying / standing. Penalty – 1 minute. | Every 3 km | |
| Sprint 7.5 km | One at a time 30 seconds, 1 minute | 3 | 2 stages with the alternation lying / standing. Penalty. – 150 meters. | Every 2.5 km | |
| Pursuit race 10 km | At the end of the sprint | 5 | 4 stages (the first two lying, then two standing). Penalty. – 150 meters. | Every 2 km | |
| Masstart 12.5 km | All together | 5 | 4 stages (the first two lying, then two standing). Penalty. – 150 meters. | Every 2.5 km | |
| Relay race (4 persons x 6 km) | All together + passing the baton | 3 | Two stages each (lying, standing) + 3 additional cartridges. Penalty. – 150 meters. | Every 2 km | |
| Supersprint 5 km | All together | 5 | 4 stages (the first two lying, then two standing) + 1 additional round. Penalty. – 75 meters. | Each 1.0 km | |
| Superpass 7.5 km | At the end of the pursuit race | 5 | 4 stages (the first two lying, then two standing) + 3 additional cartridges. Penalty. – 75 meters. | Every 1.5 km | |
| Team race 7.5 km | All together 2 minutes | 3 | Two stages (lying, standing). Penalty. – 150 meters. | Every 2.5 km |
And to learn how to prepare the track for the disciplines, we recommend reading the thematic video below.
