Age category-related differences in pacing during biathlon sprint competition

The present study aimed to compare pacing patterns among the best international level senior, junior, and youth biathletes in both sexes during a biathlon sprint competition, while also accounting for overall performance level.

Skiing speed and shooting performance were analysed from international biathlon sprint competitions held at the same venue, including senior, junior, and youth biathletes ranked 1-30 and 31-60. Relative skiing speed (SS_REL, %) was calculated for each lap (1-3) and for three sections (A-C) within laps based on each biathlete's mean skiing speed across all laps and sections. Differences in SS_REL were compared between age categories and performance groups across laps and sections using repeated-measures ANOVA Additional repeated-measures ANOVA adjusting for penalty time from the preceding shooting bout during laps 2 and 3 was also performed.

During lap 1, senior women and men demonstrated slower SS_REL than junior and youth biathletes (p < 0.05). In contrast, during laps 2 and 3 they showed faster SS_REL than both younger groups (p < 0.05). These differences were mainly related to variations in SS_REL in sections A and C (p < 0.05). Higher-performing biathletes of both sexes showed slower SS_REL during lap 1 (p < 0.05), whereas during lap 3 they had faster SS_REL (only men) than lower-performing biathletes (p < 0.05). Including penalty time after prone and standing shooting as a covariate revealed significant effects on subsequent sectional SS_REL (p < 0.05) but did not alter pairwise group comparisons.

The present results suggest that senior biathletes exhibit more even pacing than junior and youth biathletes across laps and sections. A similar pacing pattern was also observed among higher-performing male biathletes. Although shooting performance was associated with subsequent pacing, its influence remains unclear and warrants further investigation. Monitoring pacing during training and competition may therefore help biathletes to develop more effective pacing strategies and improve skiing performance in biathlon.