How does the biathlon pursuit work?
B · Beginner · The competitions · 3 of 6In the pursuit, skiers start in the order and gaps of a qualifying race, usually the sprint, so the leader starts first. Men ski 12.5 km and women 10 km, with four bouts: prone, prone, standing, standing. The first across the finish line wins. Skiers lapped by the leader must stop. Shooting lanes fill in order of arrival.
How it works
- Start: at the exact time behind the winner of the qualifying race, rounded to the second.
- Men: 12.5 km; women: 10 km; five loops.
- Shooting: prone, prone, standing, standing.
- Lanes: taken in order of arrival, from lane 1.
- Result: the order of crossing the line.
- Passing: no duty to give way.
- Lapped: must stop at top events.
- Early start: up to 3 seconds early, a 30-second penalty; more, disqualification.
The glossary has the pursuit, the lapped athletes, the shooting lane selection, the thirty-second penalty, the sprint and the photo finish.
Tricky cases
A pursuit skier starts 2 seconds early. Penalty?
30 seconds. More than 3 seconds early is disqualification.
A skier is caught by the leader. Do they carry on?
No. At top events lapped skiers must move aside and stop.
Must a slower skier give way?
No. In the pursuit there is no duty to make way when someone calls "Track".
A skier arrives late at the start through their own fault. What time counts?
Their listed start time.
Why the rule exists
Starting by the gaps turns the race into a chase where the first to finish is the true winner. Filling lanes in arrival order stops skiers choosing a favoured lane.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 12.5 km | IBU 1.4.1 |
| Women | 10 km | IBU 1.4.2 |
| Junior and youth | Lapped rules vary | IBU 9.2.3 |
From the rule book
International Biathlon Union, Event and Competition Rules (version 2026), Articles 6.1.3, 6.2.3, 6.4.2.1, 7.1.4, 8.2.1, 9.2.2, 9.2.3 and 11.3. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the IBU Event and Competition Rules, amended by the IBU Congress every two years.