Strong Field with Lou, Suvi and Justus, New Tracks Highlight Biathlon auf Schalke
The 22nd edition of Biathlon auf Schalke’s World Team Challenge promises to be as exciting and entertaining as ever with its typically strong nine-nation, ten-team team star-filled field tackling a new track layout at Veltins Arena.
France with Lou; Finland with Suvi
Just weeks before the start of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the television audience and 44,000 fans inside the arena will get an up-close and personal look at some of the medal contenders. Team France with World Cup Total Score leader Lou Jeanmonnot partnered with Fabien Claude leads the field. Jeanmonnot just a week ago buried the field in the Annecy Le Grand Bornand Pursuit, while finishing second in the Sprint and Mass Start, taking control of the Yellow Bib. Jeanmonnot missed just two of her 50 shots in the three competitions, a gaudy 96% average and perfect warm-up for Sunday’s competitions. Team Finland features Tero Seppala and Suvi Minkkinen, last season’s sharpshooting breakout star who wore Yellow early this season and closed all thirty targets in the Annecy Le Grand Bornand Sprint/Pursuit.
Strelow Leads German Squads
The home team Germany pairs up Justus Strelow and Janina Hettich-Walz on one and Danilo Riethmueller and youngster Marlene Fichtner on the second. Strelow’s always brilliant shooting has been a consistent bright spot for the German men’s team so far this season. His perfect shooting in the Annecy Le Grand Bornand Men’s Mass Start garnered a near-miss 4th place, .5 seconds off the podium. Strelow teamed with Anna Weidel last December, finishing second in the World Team Challenge behind Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid and Karoline Offigstad Knotten. Strelow’s partner Hettich-Walz, returning from maternity leave, also shoots very well, perfect for this fast-paced event. Beyond these four teams, Czechia, Slovenia, Belgium, Norway. Austria and Switzerland will also battle for victory.
New Extended Track Set-up
The big change comes in a newly extended 1.4 km track set-up outside the stadium. After heading outdoors from the start/finish area, the athletes now have a new steep climb to what is called “Plateau Nord,” followed by a fast downhill, and a hairpin 180-degree turn before returning into the stadium and shooting range.
Mass Start and Pursuit
This year’s competition, as always, consists of a mass start, followed by a pursuit to determine the winner. As in a normal sprint competition, each shooting bout, with men and women alternating consists of five rounds with a 75-meter penalty loop for each missed target.
The competition schedule for Sunday follows below. ARD will host the live broadcast in Germany, and it will also be shown on Eurosport across Europe.
17:35 Shoot Out Qualifying
17:45 Shoot Out Final
18:15 Mass Start
19:05 Pursuit
Photos: IBU/Yevenko, Manzoni
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