Every year is filled with exciting competitions from start to finish; 2025 was no exception. Although everyone has their own opinion, we picked a Top Five Best in chronological order, all memorable in one way or another.

#1 Oberhof Single Mixed Relay

The Finnish duo of Suvi Minkkinen and Tero Seppala shocked the power teams, taking the Oberhof Single Mixed Relay for Finland’s first-ever World Cup Relay win of any kind. The team’s five-spare-round shooting plus Minkkinen’s 10-for-10 anchor leg keyed the victory, after leaving the last exchange 12.9 seconds off the lead.

Both were overjoyed with their historic accomplishment, also Finland’s World Cup victory since Kaisa Makarainen won the Oberhof Mass Start exactly 5 years before. Seppala joyfully admitted, “ I am so happy, like no words. I have more than 200 IBU races and now is the first time to climb the podium…Anchor leg Minkkinen added, “It is really amazing to cross the finish line first.”

#2 Antholz Men’s Sprint

Tarjei Boe shocked the biathlon world moments after winning the Antholz Sprint with a lightning fast standing stage, promptly announcing his retirement, effectively ending the “Boe era.” Just minutes after his 15th career win and first in Antholz, the 36-year-old announced his pending retirement, like his younger brother had a week earlier.

The 2011 World Cup Total Score winner, filled with emotion and tears, explained his decision, “I told Norwegian TV just 5 minutes ago that this would be my last season, so that is why (the tears). My first victory here in Antholz; I said to myself if I won again, I would say it, because I want to…have it as a memory.”

#3 Oslo Holmenkollen Women’s Mass Start

Every athlete and fan who saw the March 2025 Oslo Women’s Mass Start will remember it forever. Germany’s Franziska Preuss, after losing the Yellow Bib the previous day to Lou Jeanmonnot rebounded with a shocking victory. Preuss and Jeanmonnot battled neck and neck until the final corner into the stadium. In a stunning turn of events, the French star fell, allowing Preuss to ski away, claiming the victory and the World Cup Total Score title.

Preuss, emotional and fighting for words after the strange finish related, “Right now, it is really emotional. I am really done mentally. It is a strange feeling right now. It was not the ending we wanted. But it was a really exciting race. We were both together in the last loop; it was crazy. It is hard to explain.”

#4 Oestersund Women’s Pursuit

A few weeks ago, the Oestersund Women’s Pursuit epitomized the adage, “in biathlon, anything is possible.” Lisa Theresa Hauser closed her 20th consecutive target as Yellow Bib and pursuit leader Suvi Minkkinen toured the penalty loop. Leaving 12 seconds behind the Finn, Hauser sprinted around the last loop, hunting down Minkkinen in the final few hundred meters for her first victory since winning the Annecy Le Grand Bornand Mass Start just a couple of weeks short of 3 years prior.

The 32-year-old Hauser, emotionally commented, “The last years were a little bit difficult for me. I had individual victories in each race except the pursuit; one big goal in my career, was to also win a pursuit. Today it happened…It was almost a perfect race for me. I am so glad; I really cannot believe it!”

#5 Annecy Le Grand Bornand Sprint

This year’s Annecy Le Grand Bornand Men’s Sprint was one for the ages. Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen led the top 6 men across the finish line within 8.8 seconds, the tightest sprint finish ever and the first time with all under ten seconds. The Norwegians four in the top five, with Christiansen and Johannes Dale-Skjevdal going 1-2, Johan-Olav Botn fourth. Sivert Guttorm Bakken, in his final sprint before his untimely death shot clean in fifth place. Only third place Emilien Jacquelin and sixth place Sebastian Samuelsson cracked the Norwegian parade.

Christiansen called his victory, “a perfectly done race. I started quite easy…I am a bit heavy for these soft conditions. Going out on the last loop, hearing five-six seconds behind Emilien with a tough last lap ahead and fighting against Dale-Skjevdal, maybe the best at a final loop in these kind of conditions. I was digging deeper than I thought I could…” And now it’s in the history books.

Photos: IBU/Chrisian Manzoni, Yevenko, Nordic Focus