Antholz

A lap of Antholz

1. Head west across the valley floor

Leave the stadium along the open western stretch, then swing south into the trees for the first climb. Settle into the bends without using all your sprint before the rolling traverse begins.

2. Carry speed over the forest rollers

Turn east across the lower slope through a string of short rises and dips. Each downhill quickly leads into another uphill, so there is little uninterrupted gliding. Carry momentum toward the next crest rather than settling into each dip.

3. Climb the southern wall

The route turns back across the slope and works up to the high section of the lap. Fans line stretches of this longer climb. Pace your sprint use: the broken descent and another climb still lie ahead.

4. Link the drops and kickers

The descent comes in short drops separated by uphill kickers. Rocky bands mark the steps in the valley wall, and the course bends between them. Look beyond each drop and carry speed into the next rise.

5. Cross the eastern shoulder and pass the lake

A final climb lifts you onto the eastern shoulder before the route drops onto the valley floor. Return from the north-east past the lake. On shooting laps, use the approach to ease your effort before reaching the mat.

What to look out for

The lake on the run-in

The Antholzer See is brought closer to the stadium for this interpretation. Look for open water with thin cover, a frozen surface with normal snow and a snow-covered lake with deep cover.

Spruce and bare larch

Winter larches break up the dense conifers on the valley sides. Look for their bare branches against the spruce.

Rock bands on the steps

Broken outcrops follow the steeper parts of the southern wall. They make the stepped terrain easier to read with lighter cover; deep snow softens the slopes and hides more of the rock.

Meadow barns and climbing crowds

Hay barns dot the open valley floor, while spectators gather along the long climb and the eastern shoulder. These landmarks help place you within the lap.

At the shooting range

Antholz’s range sits on the valley floor, with a mostly light base wind but livelier gusts and a slow swing that can reverse the crosswind. Flags can disagree as the gust reaches them at different times. Check the current direction before each shot and adjust your aim into the wind rather than keeping the same offset throughout the stage. Five targets stand 50 metres away; every miss adds a 150-metre penalty loop.

Snow, weather and light

All six weather presets, day or evening starts, and thin, normal or deep snow cover are available. Random cover favours normal and deep snow here. Thin cover reveals meadow ground and opens the lake; deep cover blankets the lake and adds snow to the trees and rocks. Fog and snowfall draw the mountain backdrop into haze, while evening races light the course with floodlights.

Take it into your next race

• Save sprint stamina for the long climb and eastern shoulder instead of emptying it on the opening rollers.
• Look through each short descent to the next kicker; downhill sprint is unavailable, so use the glide to recover stamina.
• Ease off before shooting to reduce arrival fatigue, then recheck the wind as you work across the five targets.

Open race setup and select Antholz to try this venue in sprint or mass start.