Biathlon race - World Cup schedule

In pursuit of commercial success, entertainment and public interest, biathlon competitions are constantly transformed, complicated and brought into line with the standards and realities of the world around. As one of the most spectacular and telegenic winter sports, biathlon is popular and loved by the audience. But in terms of earnings, biathletes are so inferior to the stars of football, basketball, tennis, boxing or golf that it is surprising. https://d.radikal.ru/d23/1812/1a/743f737fa17e.jpg For example, last season 2017/2018 undisputed leader among male biathletes Martan Fourcade (France) earned 289 thousand euro prize money, his closest pursuer Johannes Tingnes Bo (Norway) - 224.5 thousand, and the best biathlete among Russians Anton Shipulin - 86.5. The rest received even less. But there are some positive aspects to this: for the time being, they are not engaged in biathlon for money, but by vocation. Modern biathlon competitions are a complex of consecutive versatile races. Both individual and team. Separate races are included in the program of competitive stages or championships, so that athletes have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in various forms. Championships are local, regional, national, European and world. Competitive stages are held under the auspices of the IBU (International Biathlon Union) in the World Cup format (elite group) and the IBU Cup (juniors and the nearest reserve). The Olympic Games held once every four years dominate all types of biathlon competitions. In addition, biathlon races are male and female (the only exception is the mixed relay), with separate start and contact, with two or four firing lines. The most prestigious series is an elite group competition, which is called the World Cup. It includes 10 national stages, one of which is the annual world championship. The World Cup always starts around December 1 and lasts until the end of March, due to the specifics of winter sports - the presence of snow and cold. Cultivated biathlon is not in all countries. Traditional leaders here are the countries of Scandinavia, the north of Europe and the Alpine belt. Accordingly, the developed biathlon infrastructure, prepared tracks, shooting ranges and other components are located here in their usual places. Biathlon athletes, whose competitive period lasts less than four months a year, travel from country to country, from stage to stage. https://a.radikal.ru/a01/1812/fa/c8ffdbc581e5.jpg This season, the World Cup will follow the following route: Slovenian Pokljuka in the Julian Alps, Austrian Hochfilzen in North Tyrol, Czech Nové Město in Moravia, two German stages Oberhof and Ruholding, respectively, Thuringia and Bavaria, Italian-Austrian Antholz-Anterselva in South Tyrol, Canadian Canmore in Alberta, American Salt Lake City in Utah, Swedish Östersund where this year the world championship and suburb of the Norwegian capital will take place (Oslo Holmenkollen). Usually, biathlon competitions are a struggle of European athletes, although teams from North America (USA, Canada) and Southeast Asia (Japan, China, South Korea) are also participating, who are still far from medals and victories. Calendar 2018–19 Biathlon World Cup: https://b.radikal.ru/b33/1812/1a/9e00a3dbb939.jpg Leaders of biathlon competitions must be generalists, combining fast skiing and sniper qualities, be able to perform equally well and smoothly in individual and contact races, go on their time, competently distribute the forces of the distance and compete in the group, fighting for a place in the optimal traffic. For an objective assessment of the skill and level of training of an athlete in biathlon a complex rating system operates. The most prestigious award in the World Cup is the winner of the overall standings, which is awarded the Big Crystal Globe on the basis of the competitive season. The following article will give a brief description, the main points of the rules and regulations of each type of race in biathlon: Sprint Pursuit Individual race Mass start Relay race Photo: [1](https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/kaisa-m%C3%A4k%C3%A4r%C3%A4inen?sort=mostpopular&mediatype=photography&phrase=kaisa%20m%C3%A4k%C3%A4r%C3%A4inen), [2](https://www.championat.com/other/article-3303215-chempionat-mira-po-biatlonu-anton-shipulin---ob-otnoshenii-k-martenu-furkadu.html)