How does the biathlon mass start work?
I · Intermediate · The competitions · 2 of 7In the mass start, 30 biathletes start together; men ski 15 km and women 12.5 km, with four bouts: prone, prone, standing, standing. At the first bout each shoots from the lane of their start number; after that, lanes fill in order of arrival. The first across the line wins. The mass start 60 has 60 starters, split for the first bout.
How it works
- Field: 30 in the mass start; 60 in the mass start 60.
- Distance: men 15 km, women 12.5 km (12 km in the mass start 60).
- Shooting: prone, prone, standing, standing.
- First bout: the lane matching the start number.
- Later bouts: lanes fill from the right in order of arrival.
- Mass start 60: bibs 1 to 30 ski a second loop while 31 to 60 shoot first, then they swap.
- Start: a shot or flag; warnings at 1 minute, 30 seconds and "ready".
- Result: the order of crossing the line; lapped skiers stop.
The glossary has the mass start, the mass start 60, the shooting lane selection, the lapped athletes, the photo finish and the competition time.
Tricky cases
A biathlete shoots from the wrong lane in a mass start. Penalty?
Yes, 30 seconds, unless another competitor or an official caused the mistake.
How do skiers get into the mass start?
Through the event rules for each series; the rule book sets 30 starters.
Why do half the mass start 60 skiers not shoot first time round?
They ski a second loop so the range is not overloaded, then shoot while the others ski on.
Can skiers skate from the start?
Yes, once the signal is given.
Why the rule exists
Head-to-head racing makes the order easy to follow. Splitting the 60-strong field at the first bout stops the range from overflowing.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mass start | 30 starters | IBU Table 1 |
| Mass start 60 | 60 starters, six loops | IBU 1.4.11 c |
| Junior women | 10 km mass start | IBU 1.4.5 |
From the rule book
International Biathlon Union, Event and Competition Rules (version 2026), Articles 1.4, 1.4.11, 6.1.4, 6.3.4, 7.1.6, 8.2.1 and 11.3.1. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the IBU Event and Competition Rules, amended by the IBU Congress every two years.