With a simultaneous start by all of the competitors, the Mass Start offers the ultimate in excitement and suspense for spectators. The format of the Mass Start is similar to the Individual except the distanced are shorter and shooting follows the sequence of prone, prone, standing, standing.
Normal participation is limited to 27, which is the minimum number of targets required for a World Cup event, because each competitor requires a target at approximately the same time due to the simultaneous start.
Participation in the Mass Start is based on the top rankings of the current World Cup total score, and in the case of the World Championships also on the three medallists of the Individual, Sprint and Pursuit competitions.
If competitors are lapped in the competition, they must withdraw immediately.
