Biathlon in Lenzerheide - the chronicle
2006
The association Biathlon Centre Bual launches the project to realise a biathlon facility in Lantsch/Lenz. The main initiator is Ursin Fravi, local club coach and head of the municipal administration. He is supported by Leo Baselgia, the president of the Bual cross-country skiing club, and by Simon Willi, the president of the municipality.
December 2013
The Lenzerheide Biathlon Arena is opened. Switzerland now has its first facility where international biathlon competitions can be held. The cornerstones: shooting range (30 targets) with operations building, roller ski track (600 metres) and snow-making facilities. In combination with the extensive network of cross-country ski tracks in the holiday region Lenzerheide, the prerequisites for biathlon competitions are fulfilled.
31. December 2013/1. January 2014
With the Tour de Ski cross-country stage race, the Lenzerheide Biathlon Arena is hosting a World Cup event for the first time. The Tour de Ski will also make a stop in Lenzerheide in the winters 2015/16, 2017/18, 2019/20 and 2021/22. The 2017/18 edition becomes the highlight from a Swiss perspective when Laurien van der Graaff (sprint) and Dario Cologna (15 kilometres and pursuit) achieve three stage victories within three days.
3. December 2016
The Nordic House opens after only eight months of construction. The four-storey building is a hostel and contains a bistro, an athletics room, public changing rooms and showers, seminar rooms and a sports shop. It is the new heart of the Biathlon Arena Lenzerheide.
August 2017
The Biathlon Arena Lenzerheide receives the A-licence from the International Biathlon Union (IBU). This fulfils the requirements for World Cup and World Championship competitions.
December 2017
The IBU Cup, the second highest competition series of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), makes its first guest appearance in Lenzerheide.
November 2018
Swiss-Ski awards the Biathlon Arena Lenzerheide the label «National Performance Centre Biathlon».
January/February 2020
At the Youth and Junior World Championships in Lenzerheide, the Swiss team won three medals. Lea Meier wins gold in the individual youth competition, Amy Baserga and Sebastian Stalder bronze in the individual junior competitions respectively. The athletes are cheered on by around 7'000 spectators during the week-long event - the crowd clearly exceeds expectations.
14. November 2020
Swiss-Ski and the Lenzerheide Biathlon Arena are awarded the 2025 World Championships at the virtual congress of the International Biathlon Union (IBU). Lenzerheide is bidding for the first time - and wins the bid at the first attempt. Switzerland wins against the second bidder, Belarus.
February 2021
The Biathlon Arena Lenzerheide gets a name sponsor and will henceforth be called Roland Arena. Lenzerheide is awarded the contract to host the European Biathlon Championships in the 2022/23 season and the Biathlon World Cup competitions for the first time in the 2023/24 season.
1. May 2022
The Biathlon Arena Lenzerheide AG will be transferred from Michael Hartweg to Swiss-Ski. The change of ownership was agreed and communicated at the beginning of November 2021. Michael Hartweg will remain on the board of directors, as will the president of the municipality of Lantsch/Lenz, which will retain a stake in Biathlon Arena Lenzerheide AG.
17. September 2022
The roller ski run, which has been extended from 1.6 to 4 kilometres, is ceremoniously opened. It is another milestone in the history of the Roland Arena. Thanks to the longest roller ski track in Switzerland, the biathlon and cross-country teams now have the best training conditions in the off-snow season as well.
January 2023
With the IBU Open European Championships, the first major event of a three-part series will take place in Lenzerheide, which also includes the World Cup premiere in December 2023 and the World Championships in February 2025. A total of 6500 spectators will make their presence felt on the four days of the competition. The highlight from a Swiss perspective is the silver medal won by Amy Baserga and Niklas Hartweg in the single mixed relay at the end of the championships.
December 2023
The first BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon Lenzerheide becomes a major sports festival - and creates even more excitement for the World Championships in February 2025 at the same venue. A total of 22,500 spectators streamed into the Roland Arena over the four days of competition. The most influential figure is Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, who wins all three women's competitions. Johannes Thingnes Boe dominates the men's competition. The top star of the scene wins the pursuit and the mass start after finishing second in the sprint.
