International biathlon competitions will have a new start system for normal and fast distances.
The International Biathlon Union IBU has decided to shake up the starting system of the World Cup. The new system will be included already in the coming winter.
In the new starting system, the top 15 athletes of the World Cup no longer get to choose which group they enter. Now the best athletes are in the third or second last group.
In the past, the normal distance and fast distance races held with the split start system have started in such a way that the best have usually started at the beginning.
The IBU justifies the decision by saying that it wants to increase the excitement for TV viewers. When the best athletes have already started earlier, it has been challenging to maintain interest throughout the race, when the top places have mostly already been determined.
SVT expert Bjorn Ferry considers the reform a good move.
– There are more interesting competitions and they last longer, the former biathlon star told SVT.
The reform planned in the summer was approved, even though many stars have been against it. Among other things, it is justified that the upstream has better conditions than the downstream. Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen has stated that even in alpine skiing in the first round, the top skiers start at the top.
President of the IBU Olle Dahlin likes the change. He also took a stand on the circumstances aspect.
– We have good weather experts in all competitions. If the conditions worsen, the jury can make changes a few hours before the start, Dahlin reminded.