With World Championships spots—at least in the reserves capacities—still up for grabs in the strongest biathlon teams, there are a lot of stakes for many athletes at the IBU Open Europeans Championships in snowy Martell-Val Martello, Italy.

Norwegian men: Boe brothers’ retirement changed everything

Seismic shifts disrupted the Norwegian men’s team in the past two weeks as Johannes Thingnes Boe in Ruhpolding and Tarjei Boe in Antholz-Anterselva announced their retirements at the end of the season. While one could sense a subtle team dynamics shift with the IBU Cup Total Score leader Martin Uldal swiftly taking his opportunity in Hochfilzen and cementing his World Cup spot with the Sprint win in Annecy - Le Grand-Bornand and Johannes Dale-Skjevdal and Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen losing their status. They are both in Martell-Val Martello, with Dale-Skjevdal out of any combination for Lenzerheide 2025 and Christiansen competing and hoping for a reserve status - or a fix spot - for the men’s Relay in Switzerland.

With the Boe brothers out of Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 plans, Isak Frey, Johan Olav Botn, Sivert Guttorm Bakken, Sverre Dahlen Aspenes - and also Mats Oeverby and Martin Uldal, whose season finished due to recurring illness - see an opening for the next season. So, expert, fierce battles within the team!

German women: One spot - five contenders

With Vanessa Voigt officially finishing her season after Antholz-Anterselva, there is (at least) one spot empty in the team of Total Score winner Franziska Preuss. Julia Kink, Johanna Puff and Stefanie Scherer each hope they will join the World Championships Team in Lenzerheide.

Wednesday, 29 January 2025

10:30 - Women Individual + 14:30 - Men Individual

Friday, 31 January 2025

10:45 - Women Sprint + 14:15 - Men Sprint

Saturday, 1 February 2025

11:00 - Women Pursuit + 13:45 - Men Pursuit

Sunday, 2 February 2025

10:45 - Women Relay + 13:45 - Men Relay

French women: Botet vs Chauveau vs Guigonnat

Oberhof Sprint winner Paula Botet is not in Martell-Val Martello, but will go head-to-head with Sophie Chauveau and Gillone Guigonnat in Ridnaun-Val Ridanna. Chauveau and Guigonnat will try to enhance their chances in Martell. They probably feel relieved that their high-flying juniors Amandine Mengin and Voldiya Galmace Paulin - collecting IBU Cup wins and podiums left and right - are not in the Lenzerheide combinations.

Swedish women: four in the battle for Lenzerheide

Anna-Karin Heijdenberg, Sara Andersson, Johanna Skottheim, and Emma Nilsson are all registered for the IBU World Championships in Lenzerheide, but not all will get a chance. Martell-Val Martello is a big chance for any of them to make a statement for the coaching team.

Where to watch

You can watch the stream from the IBU Open European Championships 2025 on eurovisionsport.com and biathlonworld.com.

Overview of the broadcasters:

BGBNT - Bulgaria, CHSSR - Switzerland, CZCT - Prague, FREQUIP - France, FREUSB - France, LTLT - Lithuania, RUOKKO - Russia, SKRTVS - Slovakia, UAPBC - Ukraine, USPALK - SRT RFP, ZZEVS - Switzerland.

Photo: C.Manzoni: IBU Photo Pool