How does a biathlon relay work?
I · Intermediate · The competitions · 3 of 7In a relay, four biathletes each ski a leg with a prone and a standing bout. Each bout allows five shots plus three spares, loaded singly; only targets still standing after all eight shots bring a penalty loop. The hand-over is a touch in the hand-over zone. The single mixed relay has one woman and one man taking turns.
How it works
- Men: 4 x 7.5 km; women: 4 x 6 km; mixed: 4 x 6 km.
- Shooting: prone and standing on each leg.
- Spare rounds: three per bout, hand-loaded one by one.
- Penalty loop: 150 m for each target left after eight shots.
- Hand-over: a touch of any part of the body or rifle inside the zone.
- Bib colours: red, green, yellow, blue by leg.
- Single mixed relay: a woman and a man alternate, each shooting four bouts; 75 m loops.
- Lapped teams: stop at top events and are ranked where they were caught.
The glossary has the relay, the mixed relay, the single mixed relay, the spare round, the hand-over zone and the anchor leg.
Tricky cases
A relay skier hits all five with the first five shots. Do they fire the spares?
No. They use spares only if targets are still standing.
Can the spares be in a magazine?
They may be carried in a special magazine, but must be hand-loaded one by one.
The next skier leaves before being touched. Penalty?
Going without a valid tag means returning to the zone; starting without a tag brings 2 minutes.
Who finishes a single mixed relay?
The one who started second skis the final loop to the finish.
Why the rule exists
Spare rounds keep relays close and exciting, since one bad bout need not end a team's hopes. Hand-loading makes the spares cost time.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Relay | Three spares a bout | IBU 8.2.2 |
| Single mixed relay | Four bouts each, 75 m loop | IBU 1.4.11 a |
| Youth | 3 x 7.5 km or 3 x 6 km relays | IBU 1.4.7, 1.4.8 |
From the rule book
International Biathlon Union, Event and Competition Rules (version 2026), Articles 1.4, 1.4.11, 6.1.5, 6.3.5, 6.5.2.2, 8.2.2, 9.2.4 and 11.3; Annex A 3.1.6 (j). Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the IBU Event and Competition Rules, amended by the IBU Congress every two years.