After the coronations of Julia Simon and Johannes Boe last year, the 2023-2024 biathlon season begins this weekend in Östersund. Complete presentation.
Julia Simon will she manage to keep her big Crystal Globe? Winner of the general classification of the World Cup last winter, the Frenchwoman is putting her title back on the line. Her preparation was disrupted by a case of bank card fraud, of which her teammate accused her Justine Braisaz-Bouchet. Her main competitors will be the Italians Dorothea Wierer and Lisa Vittozzi, but also the Oeberg sisters who will start the season at home, in Östersund in Sweden. Four big names in women’s biathlon retired this year and will no longer put on skis this winter: Tiril Eckhoff, Marte Olsbu Roeiseland, Denise Herrmann-Wick and Frenchwoman Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet.
Among the men, the Norwegian Johannes Boe was untouchable last season. We hope for more competition this winter and a competitive general classification. Sturla Laegreid is certainly the number one outsider: he could compete with his compatriot if he takes a step forward after his 2nd place overall last year. A third Norwegian, Vetle Christiansen, could join the fight, like the Swedes Martin Ponsiluoma and Sebastian Samuelsson. Finally, the French will have to bounce back after a failed 2022-2023 season, and are approaching this new challenge with a revamped staff. Quentin Fillon-Maillet will want to return to his best level, which allowed him to win the big Crystal Globe in 2021-2022. Emilien Jacquelin will also be revengeful after a disappointing 16th place overall last season.
What is the program for the Biathlon World Cup?
In 2023-2024, biathletes will compete in nine World Cup stages and the world championships in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic):
- Östersund (Sweden): from November 25 to December 3, 2023
- Hochfilzen (Austria): December 8 to 10, 2023
- Lenzerheide (Switzerland): from December 14 to 17, 2023
- Oberhof (Germany): January 4 to 7, 2024
- Ruhpolding (Germany): January 10 to 14, 2024
- Antholz-Anterselva (Italy): from January 18 to 22, 2024
- World Championships in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic): February 7 to 18, 2024
- Oslo-Holmenkollen (Norway): from February 29 to March 3, 2024
- Soldier Hollow (United States): March 8 to 10, 2024
- Canmore (Canada): March 14 to 17, 2024
What is the schedule for the Biathlon World Cup?
The Biathlon World Cup calendar for the 2023/2024 season has been unveiled by the IBU (International Biathlon Union). Here is the schedule:
Ostersund (November 25-December 3)
- 25/11 – Single mixed relay (12:30 p.m.)
- 25/11 – Mixed relay (2:50 p.m.)
- 26/11 – Women’s individual (11:20 a.m.)
- 26/11 – Men’s individual (2:30 p.m.)
- 29/11 – Women’s relay (3:20 p.m.)
- 30/11 – Men’s relay (3:20 p.m.)
- 01/12 – Women’s sprint (2:45 p.m.)
- 02/12 – Men’s sprint (2:45 p.m.)
- 03/12 – Women’s pursuit (2:00 p.m.)
- 03/12 – Men’s pursuit (4:00 p.m.)
Hochfilzen (December 8-10)
- 08/12 – Men’s sprint (11:30 a.m.)
- 08/12 – Women’s sprint (2:25 p.m.)
- 09/12 – Men’s pursuit (12:15 p.m.)
- 09/12 – Women’s pursuit (2:45 p.m.)
- 10/12 – Men’s relay (11:30 a.m.)
- 10/12 – Women’s relay (2:15 p.m.)
Lenzerheide (December 14-17)
- 14/12 – Women’s sprint (2:15 p.m.)
- 15/12 – Men’s sprint (2:15 p.m.)
- 16/12 – Women’s pursuit (12:30 p.m.)
- 16/12 – Men’s pursuit (2:30 p.m.)
- 17/12 – Mass start women (12:30 p.m.)
- 17/12 – Mass start men (2:45 p.m.)
Oberhof (January 4-7)
- 04/01 – Men’s sprint (2:20 p.m.)
- 05/01 – Women’s sprint (2:25 p.m.)
- 06/01 – Men’s pursuit (12:25 p.m.)
- 06/01 – Women’s pursuit (2:40 p.m.)
- 07/01 – Men’s relay (11:30 a.m.)
- 07/01 – Women’s relay (2:25 p.m.)
Ruhpolding (January 10-14)
- 10/01 – Women’s relay (2:30 p.m.)
- 11/01 – Men’s relay (2:30 p.m.)
- 12/01 – Women’s sprint (2:30 p.m.)
- 13/01 – Men’s sprint (2:30 p.m.)
- 14/01 – Women’s pursuit (12:30 p.m.)
- 14/01 – Men’s pursuit (2:45 p.m.)
Antholz-Anterselva (January 18-21)
- 18/01 – Men’s short individual (2:20 p.m.)
- 01/19 – Women’s short individual (2:20 p.m.)
- 20/01 – Single mixed relay (12:55 p.m.)
- 20/01 – Mixed relay (2:45 p.m.)
- 01/21 – Men’s mass start (12:30 p.m.)
- 21/01 – Mass start women (2:45 p.m.)
Nove Mesto World Championships (February 7-18)
- 7/02 – Mixed relay (5:20 p.m.)
- 9/02 – Women’s sprint (5:20 p.m.)
- 10/02 – Men’s sprint (5:05 p.m.)
- 11/02 – Women’s pursuit (2:30 p.m.)
- 11/02 – Men’s pursuit (5:05 p.m.)
- 02/13 – Women’s individual (5:10 p.m.)
- 02/14 – Men’s individual (5:20 p.m.)
- 15/02 – Single mixed relay (6:00 p.m.)
- 02/17 – Women’s relay (1:45 p.m.)
- 02/17 – Men’s relay (4:30 p.m.)
- 02/18 – Mass start women (2:15 p.m.)
- 02/18 – Men’s mass start (4:30 p.m.)
Oslo (February 29-March 3)
- 02/29 – Women’s individual (2:15 p.m.)
- 01/03 – Men’s individual (2:15 p.m.)
- 02/03 – Mass start women (1:20 p.m.)
- 02/03 – Mass start men (3:20 p.m.)
- 03/03 – Single mixed relay (12:45 p.m.)
- 03/03 – Mixed relay (2:45 p.m.)
Soldier Hollow (March 8-10)
- 08/03 – Men’s relay (8:25 p.m.)
- 08/03 – Women’s sprint (11:00 p.m.)
- 09/03 – Women’s relay (8:25 p.m.)
- 09/03 – Men’s sprint (11:00 p.m.)
- 10/03 – Women’s pursuit (5:00 p.m.)
- 10/03 – Men’s pursuit (6:50 p.m.)
Canmore (March 14-17)
- 14/03 – Men’s sprint (5:40 p.m.)
- 03/15 – Women’s sprint (5:40 p.m.)
- 16/03 – Men’s pursuit (12:50 p.m.)
- 16/03 – Women’s pursuit (3:10 p.m.)
- 17/03 – Mass start men (12:50 p.m.)
- 03/17 – Mass start women (3:10 p.m.)
Who is in the French biathlon team?
Women :
- Justine Braisaz-Bouchet
- Chloe Chevalier
- Julia Simon
- Lou Jeanmonnot
- Caroline Colombo
- Sophie Chauveau
Men:
- Fabien Claude
- Quentin Fillon-Maillet
- Antonin Guigonnat
- Emilien Jacquelin
- Eric Perrot
- Emilien Claude or Oscar Lombardot
When are the Nove Mesto Worlds taking place?
This 2023/2024 biathlon season will be marked by the world championships taking place in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic). From February 7 to 18, biathletes from each nation will meet at the World Championships to try to win medals. Here is the schedule for the world championships:
- 7/02 – Mixed relay (5:20 p.m.)
- 9/02 – Women’s sprint (5:20 p.m.)
- 10/02 – Men’s sprint (5:05 p.m.)
- 11/02 – Women’s pursuit (2:30 p.m.)
- 11/02 – Men’s pursuit (5:05 p.m.)
- 02/13 – Women’s individual (5:10 p.m.)
- 02/14 – Men’s individual (5:20 p.m.)
- 15/02 – Single mixed relay (6:00 p.m.)
- 02/17 – Women’s relay (1:45 p.m.)
- 02/17 – Men’s relay (4:30 p.m.)
- 02/18 – Mass start women (2:15 p.m.)
- 02/18 – Men’s mass start (4:30 p.m.)