The 2025/2026 Biathlon World Cup begins on November 29. Still, the international biathlon season officially kicks off earlier, on Saturday, October 19, with the debut of the IBU’s brand-new event concept, Loop One, in Munich. According to the International Biathlon Union (IBU), nearly all the sport’s biggest stars will take part.

Also Read: Biathlon stars ready for Munich’s Loop One Festival

Italian Tomaso Giacomel was the fastest athlete on the range last season, spending an average of just 43.3 seconds from arrival to departure during the 2024/2025 World Cup. Right behind him was Norway’s Martin Uldal — the 24-year-old from Birkenes was only one-tenth of a second slower than the Italian star.

World Cup overall winner Sturla Holm Lægreid and recently retired Johannes Thingnes Bø also made the list; both ranked among the ten fastest shooters last season.

Read More – Biathlon World Cup season 2024/2025: Final standings after Oslo Holmenkollen

Top 10 fastest men on the shooting range – IBU World Cup 2024/2025

1. Tomaso Giacomel, Italy, 43.3 seconds
2. Quentin Fillon Maillet, France, +0.1 seconds
3. Martin Uldal, Norway, +0.1 seconds
4. Justus Strelow, Germany, +0.6 seconds
5. Burkthaler, Switzerland, +0.9 seconds
6. Emilien Jacquelin, France, +1.0 seconds
7. Viktor Brandt, Sweden, +1.1 seconds
8. Niklas Hartweg, Switzerland, +1.2 seconds
9. Johannes Thingnes Bø, Norway, +1.3 seconds
10. Sturla Holm Lægreid, Norway, +1.8 seconds

(Source: IBU Biathlonworld, Extra Round)

Ready for the World Cup

The 2025/2026 Biathlon World Cup season will open in Östersund on November 29 and feature eight World Cup rounds plus the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Also Read: Biathlon World Cup: Calendar for the 2025/2026 winter season 

The 2026 Olympic biathlon events will take place in Antholz-Anterselva from February 6 to 22.

Read More: Program for biathlon at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

Before that, the season opener, Loop One in Munich, will serve as a high-profile warm-up event on October 19, bringing together nearly all the world’s top biathletes.

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