In less than three months, from 11 to 17 January 2027, Madona will host an International Biathlon Union (IBU) Junior Cup stage for the second consecutive year. This time, the Smeceres sils venue will have the honour of opening the entire 2026/2027 IBU Junior Cup season. Following Estere Volfa’s victory in last season’s overall standings, Latvia will have seven starting quotas for junior women and five for junior men. One of the leaders of the Latvian junior team will be Rihards Lozbers, who, following appearances at the Olympic Games and Biathlon World Cup events, will begin his junior competition season in front of a home crowd in Madona.
The IBU Junior Cup will return to Madona for the second consecutive year, further strengthening the position of Smeceres sils on the international biathlon calendar. Following the 2026 event, which brought together young biathletes from several countries, the organisers are preparing for the next edition while continuing to develop the competition infrastructure.
Recently, IBU Junior Cup Race Director Tomasz Bernat visited Madona to assess the progress of preparations for the upcoming competition at the Smeceres sils venue.
Commenting on the visit, Tomasz Bernat said: “Overall, the venue is in good condition, and the local organisers are making steady progress in preparing for the upcoming IBU Junior Cup stage. A few areas still require attention, but these have already been identified and are being addressed by the organising team. The cooperation with the local organisers has been constructive, and there is a clear commitment to delivering a successful event.”
One of the key factors in organising winter sports competitions is snow availability. The situation in Madona is currently more favourable than ahead of the previous season, as snow reserves have already been stored in a snow depot to help ensure proper course preparation. Nevertheless, the final snow conditions will also depend on the weather and the onset of winter in Latvia.
Gundars Upenieks, Sports Director of the competition, emphasised that an intensive period lies ahead for the organising team: “January will be a particularly busy month in Madona. From 11 to 17 January, we will host the opening stage of the IBU Junior Cup season, followed just one week later by the Baltic Cup competitions on 23–24 January. This means delivering two international events within a short period, which requires careful planning. At the same time, we are continuing to develop the infrastructure at Smeceres sils. Our goal is not only to successfully organise the upcoming competitions but also to strengthen Madona’s position as a venue capable of regularly hosting high-level international winter sports events in the long term.”
Latvian Junior Biathletes to Open the Season in Front of a Home Crowd
The upcoming IBU Junior Cup stage will also be particularly important for Latvia’s young biathletes. Thanks to Estere Volfa’s outstanding performances and victory in last season’s overall IBU Junior Cup standings, Latvia has secured seven starting quotas for junior women and five for junior men for the new season.
Estere Volfa will now compete at senior level, while Rihards Lozbers is set to lead the Latvian junior team, with the opportunity to race in front of home supporters in Madona.
Latvian biathlete Rihards Lozbers said that competing in Latvia would be a special experience: “The past year in biathlon has been incredibly exciting and full of new experiences for me. I have had the opportunity to compete at both the Olympic Games and Biathlon World Cup events. As I prepare for the new season, my focus is on continuing to develop as an athlete and competing at different levels, including the IBU Junior Cup. I am especially happy that the opening stage will take place here in Latvia, in Madona. Racing at home, in front of our own supporters, always brings extra motivation, and I am really looking forward to it.”
IBU Junior Cup Season to Begin in Latvia and Conclude in Slovakia
The 2026/2027 IBU Junior Cup calendar features three Cup stages, alongside the Junior World Championships in Poland.
The season will begin on 11–17 January in Madona, Latvia, followed by the second stage on 4–7 February in Ridnaun–Val Ridanna, Italy. The Youth and Junior World Championships will take place from 24 February to 1 March in Szklarska Poręba–Jakuszyce, Poland, while the final IBU Junior Cup stage is scheduled for 5–7 March in Brezno–Osrblie, Slovakia.
The Madona stage will feature six races across three competition days. On 14 January, junior men and women will compete in the individual events, followed by sprint races on 16 January. The programme will conclude on 17 January with the mass start 60 races, bringing 60 athletes to the starting line at the same time.
The IBU Junior Cup stage is organised by the Latvian Biathlon Federation, with the support of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia.
The competition will take place at Smeceres sils, a cross-country skiing and biathlon venue equipped to host both national and international sporting events.