The 2025–26 Biathlon World Cup – Stage 5 is the fifth event of the season and was held in Ruhpolding, Germany, from 12 to 18 January 2026. The event consisted of two individual competitions and two relay races, one by men and one by women.
Stage overview
The Norwegian team has made changes to its lineup: Sturla Holm Lægreid has returned after illness, replacing Sverre Dahlen Aspenes and Martin Nevland. Additionally, while the return of the past World Cup overall leader Johan-Olav Botn was initially planned for this stage, it was later announced that he will not participate and will instead focus on preparing for the 2026 Olympics. In the women's team, Juni Arnekleiv returns to the World Cup for the first time this season, and Siri Skar has been given the opportunity to make her debut. They have replaced Marit Øygard and Åsne Skrede. Additionally, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, who was initially registered for the stage, missed the relay and subsequently the sprint due to feeling unwell. The Italian team has seen the return of its leaders, Dorothea Wierer and Lisa Vittozzi, while Rebecca Passler is missing the stage due to illness. In the German team, Sophia Schneider replaced Anna Weidel, and Danilo Riethmüller was also brought back into the main squad.https://www.nordicmag.info/en/biathlon-sophia-schneider-and-danilo-riethmueller-retained-philipp-horn-still-sidelined-the-german-squad-for-the-ruhpolding-world-cup-0112/ The Swedish team has entered seven women for the stage, two of whom were absent from the previous stage: Ella Halvarsson and Johanna Skottheim, while Sara Andersson has been dropped. In the French men's team, Émilien Claude was brought back into the main squad, replacing Valentin Lejeune. Although Czech leader Markéta Davidová was entered for this stage, she ultimately did not compete in either the relay or the sprint. Other notable returns include Lisa Theresa Hauser, who missed the previous stage due to illness, and Paulína Bátovská Fialková, who skipped the previous stage as part of her preparation for the 2026 Olympics.
For the first time in World Cup history, a biathlete representing Denmark will compete in the women's individual race: Anne Bunemann de Besche.
Schedule of events The events took place at the following times. Date Time Events 14 January 14:30 CET Women's 4X6 km Relay 15 January 14:30 CET Men's 4X7.5 km Relay 16 January 14:30 CET Women's 7.5 km Sprint 17 January 14:30 CET Men's 10 km Sprint 18 January 12:30 CET Women's 10 km Pursuit 15:00 CET Men's 12.5 km Pursuit
Medal winners Men Event: Gold: Time Silver: Time Bronze: Time 4 x 7.5 km Men Relay Fabien ClaudeOscar LombardotQuentin Fillon MailletÉric Perrot 1:08:58.1(0+0) (1+3)(0+0) (0+0)(0+0) (0+1)(0+0) (0+0) Johannes Dale-SkjevdalSturla Holm LægreidMartin UldalVetle Sjåstad Christiansen 1:09:04.3(0+2) (0+1)(0+0) (0+1)(0+0) (0+2)(0+0) (0+1) Justus StrelowDanilo RiethmüllerDavid ZobelPhilipp Nawrath 1:09:06.0(0+1) (0+0)(0+1) (0+0)(0+1) (0+0)(0+1) (0+1) 10 km Sprint Sebastian Samuelsson 21:53.8(0+0) Tommaso Giacomel 22:11.4(1+0) Isak Leknes Frey 22:27.9(0+0) 12.5 km Pursuit Johannes Dale-Skjevdal 30:23.9(0+0+1+0) Éric Perrot +4.9(2+0+0+1) Martin Ponsiluoma +7.5(2+0+1+1)
Women Event: Gold: Time Silver: Time Bronze: Time 4 x 6 km Women RelayMarthe Kråkstad JohansenJuni ArnekleivKaroline Offigstad KnottenMaren Kirkeeide 1:07:06.2(0+0) (0+2)(0+0) (0+1)(0+2) (0+2)(0+1) (0+1)Hannah AuchentallerDorothea WiererMichela CarraraLisa Vittozzi 1:07:07.1(0+0) (0+1)(0+0) (0+1)(0+1) (0+1)(0+0) (0+0)Johanna SkottheimLinn GestblomElvira ÖbergHanna Öberg 1:07:09.2(0+0) (0+0)(0+1) (0+1)(0+0) (0+2)(0+2) (0+1) 7.5 km Sprint Hanna Öberg 19:10.7(0+0) Lou Jeanmonnot 19:18.2(0+0) Lisa Vittozzi 19:22.4(0+0) 10 km Pursuit Lou Jeanmonnot 29:26.6(0+0+0+1) Hanna Öberg +10.5(1+2+0+0) Camille Bened +12.9(0+0+0+0)
Achievements Best individual performance for all time
Men Isak Frey (22) reached No. 3 on sprint race Renārs Birkentāls (24) reached No. 18 on sprint race Konrad Badacz (23) reached No. 20 on sprint race Henning Sjökvist (28) reached No. 28 on pursuit race Nicola Romanin (31) reached No. 30 on pursuit race Chen Song (25) reached No. 91 on sprint race Tadej Repnik (21) reached No. 107 on sprint race
Women Lea Meier (24) reached No. 12 on pursuit race Shilo Rousseau (25) reached No. 21 on pursuit race Siri Skar (22) reached No. 27 on sprint race Lara Wagner (23) reached No. 55 on pursuit race Anne De Besche (25) reached No. 78 on sprint race Iva Morić (21) reached No. 86 on sprint race Emma Roberta Rajando (21) reached No. 102 on sprint race
First World Cup individual race
Men Chen Song (25) reached No. 91 on sprint race Rasmus Schiellerup (24) reached No. 100 on sprint race Tadej Repnik (21) reached No. 107 on sprint race
Women Siri Skar (22) reached No. 27 on sprint race Anne De Besche (25) reached No. 78 on sprint race Iva Morić (21) reached No. 86 on sprint race Emma Roberta Rajando (21) reached No. 102 on sprint race
References