Sturla Holm Lægreid (NOR) kicks off the last World Cup prior to the 2025 IBU World Championships with second place in the sprint only four tenths shy first place, then wins the pursuit by nearly 20 seconds and zero shots wasted at the range and leaves the scene with a statement - in yellow, leading the overall World Cup by nearly 50 points.
"Nothing gets bigger than that, and it feels good. I clean up 20/20 and can show off a bit on my last lap," Lægreid says to NRK after the victory.
With the Bø-brothers, including the reigning king of biathlon Johannes Thingnes Bø, having announced that they are retiring this season, a new king is on the rise.
Related coverage: Rock star or biathlete? Yes please. Both
Story continues below
Photo by: Nordic Focus
In the relay on Saturday, Emilien Jacquelin anchors France to victory for the fourth time this season, entering the stadium with a minute to spare and time to cheer as he closes in on the finish line. Lægreid sets Norway up for yet another second place.
Fun fact: The IBU World Cup this weekend took place at Antholz-Anterselva, the venue that will host the 2026 Olympics.
Story continues below
Photo by: Nordic Focus
The biathletes are not the only ones to show off.
At the FIS cross-country World Cup in Engadin (SUI), Johannes Hauge Harviken (NOR) creates headlines posting a top 3 finish in the skate sprint qualifier on Saturday and makes it to the semifinal in her first-ever international World Cup event.
In the same sprint, comeback kid Helene Fossesholm posts a top 10 finish in the qualifier but exits early in the heats due to a race incident. On Sunday, Fossesholm cruises into seventh place in the 20-kilometer skate race on the same courses.
Last week, the 23-year-old was named to the Norwegian team for the 2025 FIS Nordic World Championships on home turf in Trondheim on February 26 to March 9.
The FIS cross-country World Cup is now headed to Cogne (ITA) for the coming weekend.
Photo by: Nordic Focus