Rankings and Points
At the heart of biathlon competition is IBU's official rankings and points system. This is where every shot and every second on the tracks translates into a ranking that defines an athlete's season.
HOW WORLD CUP POINTS WORK
In every BMW IBU World Cup, IBU Cup, and IBU Junior Cup race, athletes compete not only for victory but for points that add up throughout the season. The points are totalled to decide the season's big prizes - the Total Score and the Discipline titles. Nations Cup Score title comes as the season's end prestige award.
STANDARD SCORING
Disciplines: Sprint, Pursuit, Individual, Relay
Points: top 40 athletes score
- 1st Place: 90 points
- 2nd Place: 75 points
- 3rd Place: 65 points
- 10th Place: 31 points
- 40th Place: 1 point
SPECIAL SCORING
Disciplines: Super Sprint, Mass Start
Points: top 30 athletes score
- 1st Place: 90 points
- 2nd Place: 75 points
- 3rd Place: 65 points
- 21st Place: 20 points
- 30th Place: 2 points
2025/2026 IBU WORLD CUP PRIZES
The total prize money for the 2025/2026 IBU World Cup season is €8,814,100. Here's how it's broken down:
INDIVIDUAL COMPETITIONS
Competitions: Men 21, Women 21
Total prizes: €5,499,900
- Total per race: €130,950 (awarded to the top 30 athletes)
- 1st Place: €20,000
- 2nd Place: €16,000
- 3rd Place: €13,000
Relay
Competitions: 13 (Men, Women, Mixed)
Total prizes: €1,378,000
- Total per race: €106,000 (awarded to the top 8 teams)
- Winning Team: €30,000 (split equally among the 4 athletes)
Single Mixed Relay
Competitions: 3
Total prizes: €159,000
- Total per race: €53,000 (awarded to the top 8 teams)
- Winning Team: €15,000 (split equally between the 2 athletes)
BIB BONUSES
Total prizes: €130,200
Leading the pack pays off. A total of €130,200 is paid to athletes for wearing a leader's bib during a race.
- Yellow Bib (Total Score Leader): €1,400 per race
- Red Bib (Discipline Leader): €1,100 per race
- Blue Bib (U23 Leader): €600 per race
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Total prizes: €93,000
A total of €93,000 is set aside for special in-race rewards.
- Best Net Pursuit Time: €2,500
- Best Relay Leg: €1,000
SEASON FINALE: REWARDING THE BEST OF THE BEST
Total prizes: €1,326,000
A total of €1,326,000 is shared among the top 10 athletes in the Total Score and the top 10 nations in the Nations Cup.
- Total Score Champion (Men/Women): €45,000
- Nations Cup Winner (Men/Women): €60,000
An additional €228,000 is awarded to the Discipline Score winners.
- Discipline Score Winners (Sprint, Individual, Pursuit, Mass Start): €14,000 each
- U25 Winners: €14,000 each discipline
- Relay Winner: €30,000
- Mixed Relay Winner: €28,000
2025/2026 IBU CUP PRIZES
The total prize money for the 2025/2026 IBU Cup, including the Open European Championships, is €698,900.
INDIVIDUAL COMPETITIONS
Total prizes: €424,200
- Total per race: €10,100 (awarded to the top 8 athletes)
Relay
Total prizes: €90,000
- Women, Men, Mixed: €20,000 per race (awarded to the top 6 teams)
- Single Mixed Relay: €10,000 per race (top 6 teams)
IBU OPEN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Total prizes: €184,700
- Individual Races: €120,300 (for the top 10 in six competitions)
- Relay Races: €64,400 (for the top 8 in the Women's and Men's Relays)