Although the Summer Olympics features more sports than the Winter Olympics, the latter still has many captivating events. One of the most highly viewed sports in the Winter Olympics is the Biathlon, which attracts millions of TV viewers.
But, despite being popular, numerous individuals are not well-acquainted with this excellent winter sport and how to bet on it. With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about the Biathlon and a few betting tips that will help increase your chances of winning a wager!
What is the Biathlon
The Biathlon, a challenging sport that combines precise rifle shooting with cross-country skiing, officially debuted in the Winter Olympics in 1960. However, according to historical accounts, the sport actually traces back to the 1700s or perhaps even earlier.
Most experts surmise that the Biathlon as we know it today evolved from military training exercises. The earliest documented competition among military personnel occurred in 1767 along the boundary between Sweden and Norway- an event widely acknowledged as the inaugural biathlon contest.
What the Biathlon Consists Of
The Biathlon comprises skiing segments on cross-country skis (Nordic skis) and shooting rounds. These skis differ from typical downhill skis as they have fewer sharper turns and are thinner.
Biathlon Skiing
The biathlon skiing event in the Winter Olympics possesses a unique characteristic that sets it apart from standard cross-country skiing competitions. Biathletes can choose between classic cross-country ski style and freestyle skiing, also known as the skating technique. However, as freestyle skiing is considerably faster, most participants opt for this choice. In relay events, the first athlete must strictly use the classical cross-country skiing technique for the initial 100 meters. Subsequently, they can freely select their preferred skiing style.
With the exception of the final 100 meters of a race, competitors must inform the skier in front when they wish to pass, even if there is enough room for two athletes to ski side by side. Throughout the skiing section of the biathlon competition, the athlete carries their rifle on their back.
In mass start events, the first athlete to cross the finish line emerges as the winner. Conversely, in interval start biathlon events, athletes are ranked post-event based on their finish times adjusted for any time penalties incurred for missed targets. Here, the athlete with the fastest total time takes home the prize, although a tie is also possible.
Biathlon Shooting
In a typical biathlon event, athletes will encounter four or at least two shooting bouts, each with five targets positioned fifty meters away. During these bouts, the biathletes must keep their skis on and shoot from either a prone or standing position. While standing, specific points of contact with the rifle are allowed, including the cheek, breast, shoulder, and hands.
Conversely, while prone, contact is limited to the cheeks, shoulder, and hands, shoulder. One of the primary challenges of the Biathlon is combining the mental focus and control required for precise shooting with the physical demands of skiing. During the Biathlon, athletes keep their heart rate elevated while remaining calm and accurate with shooting.
It is imperative for biathletes to possess the skill of rapid rifle reloading, as it significantly influences their speed and overall performance. Generally, most biathlon rifles have a straight-pull action. This is where the athlete loads a clip into their rifle and loads the chamber by simultaneously pulling with the index finger and pushing forward with the thumb.
Nevertheless, the three buckets must be hand loaded during relays if additional ammunition is required after the five initial bullets. The biathlon targets are typically small, which measure 45 millimeters (1.77 inches) for prone shooting bouts and 115 millimeters (4.53 inches) for standing shooting bouts.
Competitors that fail to hit their targets are subjected to either skiing a penalty lap or having the automatic addition of time to their finish time, contingent on the event.
Different Biathlon Events
 In the realm of Biathlon, the Winter Olympics comprises a diverse array of six event categories: Mass Start, Mixed Relay, Relay, Pursuit, Sprint, and Individual. Out of these, there are a total of eleven biathlon events featured in the Winter Olympics.
This is mainly because each category comprises a separate race for women and men, except for Mixed Relay, which has a single race involving multiple relay teams. Lastly, each team comprises four athletes, two women, and two men.
- Mass Start – Based on the past World Cup rankings results, the biathlon mass start features the participation of the 30 premier biathletes. The distance covered by men and women is 9 and 6 miles, respectively.
- Sprint – In the biathlon sprint racing category, female competitors cover 4.5 miles, while the men’s race covers 6 miles. Biathletes must shoot at two firing lines and complete three laps of lying down and standing, resembling the classics. Failure to hit the targets translates to passing through penalty circles, which are approximately 492 ft. each and can take between 22 and 25 seconds to overcome.
- Pursuit – According to the sprint race results, biathletes will begin the pursuit race from where they completed the sprint. The women’s biathlon race covers 6 miles, whereas the men’s is approximately 8 miles long. Throughout the biathlon pursuit race, athletes will encounter two shooting stations and four firing lines to overcome.
- Relay – The biathlon relay races for both women and men are highlighted by a distinct feature where each team consists of four biathletes who must pass through the stand and lie down-firing lines. The women’s race spans a distance of six kilometers, while the men’s is set at 7.5 kilometers.
- Private – In the private category of Biathlon, men race on a 12.5-mile course while women race on a 9.0-mile course. This category involves five laps and four firing lines, with athletes alternating between standing and lying positions.
Athletes are penalized with an additional minute for every missed target. Winners are determined by the highest percentage of targets successfully hit.
Biathlon Betting Odds and Markets
Here are a few biathlon betting odds and markets that bettors must be aware of before placing any wagers:
Who will Make More Mistakes
This type of biathlon bet tends to be rare in sportsbooks, making it highly sought after. Generally speaking, the maximum wagers permitted for this type of event are limited, so it may not be particularly appealing to serious high-stakes players seeking such opportunities. However, for the average punter, it represents an excellent opportunity to inject excitement into their viewing experience and get a nice adrenaline rush.
Who will Finish Higher
Typically favored by lovers of biathlon betting, this particular bet type is widely popular. Although not universally available among sportsbooks, it is commonly offered by those specializing in wagers on winter sports.
For example, bettors can make their picks from up to 30 different comparisons at the World Championship Races, predicting which rider from each pair will convincingly outperform the other. What sets this type of bet apart is its notable profit margin.
Who Will Finish in the Top Three Positions
The position of guessing which biathlete will stand on the podium after the race is equally important to the winner’s position. Typically, the odds of the favorites in this position are below the 1.4 mark.
Who Wins the Race
This particular bet type is clear and involves predicting which participant will emerge victorious in a race. As sporting events typically lack a clear-cut favorite, the odds for the top pick are seldom below 2.5 (+150). Considering the vast pool of contenders that could ultimately triumph, the profit margin is typically quite substantial.
Pre-Race Analysis: What to Consider Before Betting
Before placing bets on a biathlon race, it is crucial to scrutinize all possible calculations thoroughly. Conducting pre-race analysis for biathlons requires an entirely distinct approach compared to other sports, as it concerns an individual sport and heavily relies on various unpredictable elements.
The Weather
When it comes to biathlon betting, weather conditions play a pivotal role. If the snowfall is amplified, seasoned players favor athletes under the first half of the starting protocol. This is because the track will be damaged by the second half’s beginning, which will considerably slow down the later starters.
Furthermore, weather conditions have an even greater impact on the shooting aspect of biathlon betting. However, if you anticipate unfavorable weather conditions, focusing on racers better suited for racing rather than shooting may be wise. The firing line tends to even out the odds during inclement weather, while higher speeds may be attained on the track.
The Athlete’s Motivation Levels
Motivation is crucial in biathlons, just like in any other sport. It drives athletes to push themselves to their limits and strive for every second toward the finish line.
It is important to consider the overall standings of competitors before placing a bet and any possible influences on motivation, such as home stages of competitions or changes in personal life. Therefore, analyzing an athlete’s motivation level is a critical element that must not be overlooked by those who wish to wager on biathlon events.
Lubrication
Individuals keen on ski racing and biathlons will likely confirm that proper lubrication is crucial for success in these events. One can determine whether or not a team’s representatives have appropriately lubricated by observing their pre-race warm-up or performance in earlier races on the same day.
Typically, female and male representatives from the same country employ the same lubrication techniques, allowing for inferences to be made about each team based on their performance in the first race of the day.
Athletes Current Form
To obtain the most precise information about biathlon athletes, analyzing their shooting statistics from the past five or six starts is advisable. This parameter is a reliable indicator of their recent performance with the rifle. Additionally, it is essential to note the net progress rate, which significantly affects the final outcome. All the necessary data can be accessed via the IBU website.
Best Biathlon Athletes
Here is a list of the best biathlon players that you can bet on:
Ole Einar Bjørndalen
Ole Einar Bjørndalen, a biathlete and coach from Norway, has earned the moniker of “King of Biathlon.” With thirteen medals from the Winter Olympic Games, he is placed number two on the list of individuals with more than one medal, just behind Marit Bjørgen with 15. Furthermore, with a grand total of 45 medals, Bjørndalen is the most successful biathlete in the Biathlon World Championships.
Johannes Thingnes Bø
Johannes Thingnes Bø is a highly accomplished Norwegian biathlete with impressive accolades. Having clinched five Olympic gold medals and 12 World Championship gold medals, he ranks as the third-most accomplished male biathlete of all time.
Renowned for his rapid skiing abilities and unparalleled shooting accuracy, Johannes has recently established himself as the foremost biathlete, enjoying a remarkable 55 World Cup victories.
Tiril Eckhoff
Tiril Eckhoff, a prominent athlete from Norway, has garnered widespread recognition for her exceptional performance as a biathlete. She has accomplished remarkable feats, including winning two
Olympic gold medals at the 2014 and 2022 Winter Games, amassing four Olympic bronze and two silver medals. Additionally, Tiril Eckhoff has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the Biathlon World Championships. She has proudly secured an impressive ten gold, two silver, and three bronze medals.
Darya Domracheva
Darya Domracheva, a Belarusian biathlete, made history at the 2014 Sochi Olympics by becoming the first female to secure three titles in the same Olympic competition, earning herself three gold medals.
Her impressive accomplishments include these Olympic victories, three Olympic medals, and six World Championship medals. Though she initially represented Russia, Domracheva later chose to represent Belarus.
Tarjei Bo
Tarjei Bo is a highly accomplished Norwegian biathlete renowned for his exceptional achievements in the Olympic games. With three illustrious gold medals to his name, two of which he earned at the 2022 Olympics, he stands out as one of the most successful athletes in this sport.
Additionally, he has secured two silver and a bronze medal in the Olympic games, further adding to his impressive record. Beyond the Olympic games, Tarjei Bo has demonstrated his mastery of Biathlon by earning 11 gold medals, two silver medals, and eight bronze medals at the World Championships. Notably, he is the older brother of fellow biathlete Johannes Thingnes Bø.
Famous Biathlon Tournaments
Here is a list of famous biathlon tournaments that you can bet on:
- Biathlon Junior Championships – The inception of the Biathlon World Junior Championships dates back to 1967 with the men’s competition, succeeded by the women’s competition in 1984. Formerly held in conjunction with the World Cup, the championships’ locations have since shifted to the Czech Republic, Finland, and Austria.
- Biathlon World Cup – The Men’s Biathlon world cup commenced during the 1977-78 season, while the women’s counterpart was introduced in the 1982-83 season. It was initially named the European cup and later rebranded to the world cup. The world cup is usually scheduled between November and March, and the program comprises a relay race occurring 4-6 times. Following the conclusion of the entire event, the victor is presented with the grand Crystal Globe trophy. The winner is determined based on the participant’s highest total points.
- Biathlon at Winter Olympics – The Olympic sport of Biathlon first appeared in the Winter Games of 1960, featuring the challenging individual event of 20km. The Relay of 4 x 7.5 km was subsequently added to the Winter Olympics in 1968, and the sprint of 10km was introduced in 1980. Women were included in this thrilling sport, beginning with the 1992 Winter Olympics. Germany has dominated the Biathlon, earning the most gold medals, followed closely by Norway.
Final Thoughts
Although not widely celebrated, Biathlon is gaining growing numbers of fans annually, largely due to its visually appealing nature. It’s a captivating sport that’s far from dull, and its competitions are regularly broadcasted on popular sports television channels globally. So, if you’re looking to dive into biathlon betting, the tips shared today will help you with the start you want!