The IBU Junior Cup is ready! After the professionals in the BMW IBU World Cup and IBU Cup, the new season is now also starting for the junior athletes. The first stop is South Tyrol, there is a premiere and the highlight of the Junior World Championships in Oestersund.

Over 30 nations are competing in the IBU Junior Cup this season. The first stop is Ridnaun in South Tyrol. The first race for the juniors is the longest distance on the competition program - the 12.5-kilometre individual race for the women and the 15-kilometre race for the men. Two sprint competitions complete the start.

Premiere in Switzerland

Ridnaun is a well-known venue in the IBU Junior Cup and IBU Cup. The municipality has been part of the IBU race calendar for years. Another town, however, is taking part for the first time. Goms in the heart of the Swiss Alps in the canton of Valais welcomes the juniors for mixed relays, sprint and mass start 60. The Goms Nordic Center opened in October 2023 and has over 100 kilometers of cross-country trails for the athletes to compete and train on. A perfect condition before the Christmas break.

In January 2025, the juniors will travel to Poland, more precisely to Jakuszyce. The IBU Junior Open European Championships were held at this venue last year. This year, podium places in the sprint and mass start 60 will be contested during the Junior Cup. One week later, the biathlon team will continue to Altenberg, Germany. After a break of over a decade, international biathlon sport is back in the Ore Mountains. Over 250 athletes are expected to compete in the IBU Junior Open European Championships there.

Highlight of the season: IBU Youth/Junior World Championships in Sweden

The highlight and conclusion of the biathlon season will take place from February 26 to March 5 in Oestersund, Sweden. Six years after the 2019 IBU World Championships, there will be another major championship in Sweden's biathlon Mecca, this time for the junior and youth athletes. 18 races are on the schedule over the two weeks.

The favorites

The strongest nation last season, both in the women's and men's events, was Germany, which won the Nations Cup. The German team can be expected to fight for the podium again this season. Even if some athletes have made the leap into the IBU Cup or IBU World Cup. However, Tim Nechwatal and Alina Nussbicker already proved last season that they can fight for the top places and are among the favorites again this year.

As expected, the French team is also likely to be represented by a strong team. Third place in the medal table at the last championships in Otepaa, Estonia, speaks for itself. Special attention will be paid to Voldiya Galmace Paulin and Antonin Guy.

Photos: IBU I Deubert, Osula