The most exiting discipline is the Relay competition. Each team comprises 4 Biathletes each of whom has to ski 7,5 km with two firing bouts, one prone and one standing, both with unsupported rifle. The teams cover a total distance of 30 km. There is an impressive mass start by all the first skiers in the respective teams.
Up to the first firing bout after 2,5 km, skiing is done under a tactical aspect. The field usually arrives "en masse" at the firing range, where the competitors fire on the lane corresponding to their starting number. Unlike the individual competition, each Biathlete has 8 rounds of ammunitions for 5 targets. The first 5 of these rounds are loaded from the magazine. The 3 reserve rounds, when needed, must be loaded single after having been placed at the firing point. If all the targets are hit with the first 5 rounds, the athlete can immediately continue to ski without covering a handicap loop. If not, he must continue firing until he has either hit all 5 targets or fired all 8 rounds. If he still has not hit all 5 targets he must then cover a 150 m handicap loop for each missed target. In the handover zone, the next racer is sent on his way with a pat on the back. The best teams need about 1 hour 20 minutes to cover the 30 km course.
A women�s relay team comprises 4 competitors, each of whom skis 7,5 km to fire once prone and once standing. Each team covers a total distance of 30 km.
