Gathering on equal footing: what to expect from the Biathlon Cup of the strongest athletes

February 15-23, Belarusian Raubichi will host the main start for our biathletes - the Cup of the strongest athletes. It will feature the best representatives of the two friendly countries. Read more about what to expect in the coming competition week - in the material of "Izvestia.

On an equal footing with the Belarusians

The main start of the season usually falls in February and early March. Until 2023, the World Championships and the Olympics were such for us, but after the suspension from international competitions, the main starts for Russians and Belarusians began to change their names.

The year before last in February biathletes competed at the Russian Championship in Izhevsk, last year - at the Spartakiad of the strongest in Zlatoust. At both of these main starts the Belarusians performed out of the standings. That is, they were entitled to neither medals, nor prize money, and the national anthem was not played at the awarding ceremonies in case of their neighbors' victories.

The situation began to change in Zlatoust, where the Belarusians were allowed with a great fiddling. The regulations of the Ministry of Sport did not assume that foreigners could participate in the Russian Spartakiade. In the end, they got there and even received medals. Then the national team of Bashkortostan made a noble deed. The Belarusians were third in the men's relay, and the Bashkirs were fourth. Bronze awards were given to the Russians, who decided to give the medals to those who deserved them. Toward the end of the season, the Belarusian national anthem was played at the Russian competitions.

In the summer it was announced that there would be no such disparity in the new season. In February 2025 the championship of the Union State was included in the plan.

- The idea of holding an open championship of the Union State has been actively discussed by all interested parties for quite a long time," SBR head Viktor Maigurov told "Izvestia. - We all worked on the draft regulations of this competition, and our meeting with Andrian Alekseevich (Tsybulsky - President of the Belarusian Biathlon Federation. - "Izvestia") contributed to the formation of a unified position of the federations of the two friendly countries.

"The chances of going to the Olympics are minimal."

Russian biathlete Irina Kazakevich - about the Games-2026 and difficult weather conditions at domestic competitions

Initially, the plan was to hold the event in Sochi, but in the fall there were talks that probably the main start would be hosted by Belarus. Toward the end of January this year, a new official name appeared - the Cup of the strongest athletes.

In early February, two weeks before the main start, there were fears that the competition might be moved from Raubichi to Ufa. The fact is that in Belarus, as well as in the central part of Russia, this winter there is a shortage of snow due to the warm weather. However, the organizers' fears were soon dispelled.

Participants, prize money, schedule

The regulations of the Cup of Strongest Athletes allow biathletes from the national teams of Russia, Belarus, as well as regional teams of our country to participate. The maximum number of participants from the national team is 32 people: 16 men and 16 women. Prize money is available this time to both Russian and Belarusian biathletes. The size of payments coincides with the Commonwealth Cup. The athletes, who took the first six places in the races, are entitled to cash checks, while in the mixed relay - only the first three. The winner in individual races receives Br300 thousand, silver medalist - Br270 thousand, bronze - Br240 thousand, for fourth place - Br210 thousand, for fifth - Br180 thousand, for sixth - Br150 thousand. In single mixed relay the sums are the same, but they will have to be divided into two with a partner. In mixed relay the strongest four gets 600 thousand, for the second place - 540 thousand, for the third - 480 thousand.

The points earned in Raubichi should go to the overall standings of the Commonwealth Cup. Now Belarusian Anton Smolski is the leader in the men's total. He seized the first line in the summer, having made a winning hat-trick at the stage in Krasnoyarsk, and since then he has not fallen lower. Eduard Latypov is in second place, 140 points behind. The third position goes to Daniil Serokhvostov, who missed the summer stage but is simply unstoppable in winter. In the girls' race, the Russians are in the lead: Viktoria Slivko in the yellow jersey, 78 points behind her is Tamara Derbusheva. The third line is occupied by the wife of the leader of the men's standings - Dinara Smolskaya.

The Strongest Athletes Cup starts a few days later than the World Championships, but will also end on February 23 with races from the general start. Unlike the competitions held in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, the program in Raubichi lacks classic relays. We don't have enough participants for a large number of equivalent teams in this event.