2025-26 Season Opener on Deck in Östersund
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by Sara Donatello
The wait is over. After a productive two-and-a-half-week pre-season training camp on snow in Obertilliach, AUT, the World Cup Team has arrived in Östersund, SWE to kick off the 2025-26 BMW IBU World Cup season. The athletes are eager to return to the start line after the nearly eight-month training period, bringing with them strong momentum, a fresh new logo, and a new look for an Olympic season with historic potential.
World Cup 1, the longest of the World Cup events, spans nine days, instead of the normal Thursday-to-Sunday time frame. Over the course of nearly two weeks, athletes will toe the line in their respective gender relays, mixed and single mixed relays, individual, sprint, and pursuit races.
This opening World Cup also marks the beginning of U.S. Biathlon’s Phase 2 qualification period for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games. Individual results during the first three World Cup weekends - Östersund, Hochfilzen, and Annecy-Le Grand Bornand - will determine up to two Olympic nominees per gender, named at the conclusion of World Cup 3. To view the full Olympic qualification criteria, click HERE.
World Cup racing can be live streamed for free via Eurovision Sport. Fans can also stay up to date on the IBU App, with live updates, start lists, results, athlete profiles, and more! Click HERE for more information.
World Cup 1 Schedule - Östersund, Sweden
November 29
W 4x6km Relay | 07:15 ET / 13:15 CET
M 4x7.5km Relay | 10:55 ET / 16:55 CET
November 30
Single Mixed Relay | 08:00 ET / 14:00 CET
Mixed Relay | 10:40 ET / 16:40 CET
December 02
W 15km Individual | 09:30 ET / 15:30 CET
December 03
M 20km Individual | 09:30 ET / 15:30 CET
December 05
W 7.5km Sprint | 10:00 ET / 16:00 CET
December 06
M 10km Sprint | 10:30 ET / 16:30 CET
December 07
W 10km Pursuit | 07:15 ET / 13:15 CET
M 12.5km Pursuit | 09:20 ET / 15:20 CET
