Everything About the Biathlon World Championships in Lenzerheide

Everything About the Biathlon World Championships in Lenzerheide

Originally published in sportschau.de on February 12, 2025

Biathlon World Championships in Lenzerheide

The Biathlon World Championships will be held from February 11 to 23, 2025 in Lenzerheide, located in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. This marks only the second time since 1985 that a world championship event has been hosted in Switzerland. The choice of Lenzerheide as the venue was confirmed in November 2020, when it won out over a competing complex near Minsk.

The competition venue, set at 1,400 meters above sea level, has already hosted a Biathlon World Cup event in December 2023, as well as several IBU Cup and Junior Cup races. In addition, the area is familiar to cross-country skiers, having been featured in multiple editions of the Tour de Ski.

The championships will feature twelve disciplines including the mixed relay, sprints, pursuits, individual races, single-mixed events, and relays, culminating in mass start races. For instance, the mixed relay will kick off the event, while the men’s and women’s mass starts will conclude the championships.

A look back at the previous World Championships in 2024 reveals strong performances by teams from France, Norway, and other nations. On the men's side, Johannes Thingnes Bö added to his medal cabinet by winning titles in the pursuit, individual, and mass start races, while Sturla Holm Laegreid excelled in the sprint. Among the women, Julia Simon and her French teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet were standout performers, and Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi was the fastest in the individual race.

From the German perspective, the report highlights the team selections: the men’s squad includes Philipp Horn, Johannes Kühn, Philipp Nawrath, Danilo Riethmüller, and Justus Strelow. The women’s team, facing unexpected changes due to the pregnancy of Janina Hettich-Walz and Vanessa Voigt’s illness, will feature Selina Grotian, Franziska Preuß, Johanna Puff, Sophia Schneider, and Julia Tannheimer.

The article also outlines which nations are tipped to excel, with Norway expected to lead in the men’s events through stars such as Johannes Thingnes Bö and Sturla Holm Laegreid, while a duel between Franziska Preuß and French rival Lou Jeanmonnot is anticipated on the women’s side. Additionally, the German team is seen as having strong medal possibilities, especially in the relay events.

For viewers, sportschau.de offers extensive live coverage including detailed live tickers, race reports, highlight videos, and television as well as streaming options. Whether following the races in real time or catching up later, fans have a variety of ways to experience the action.

Overall, this article serves as a detailed guide for biathlon fans, offering insights into the schedule, background, and team dynamics ahead of the 2025 World Championships in Lenzerheide.