Dresden celebrates the Bø brothers: Legend race thrills 30,000 fans!

Dresden celebrates the Bø brothers: Legend race thrills 30,000 fans!

In an atmosphere that is rarely found in Dresden, the starting signal for the M4Energy City Biathlon was given on August 31, 2025. The event not only promised top sporting performances, but also emotional moments with the Bø brothers as they celebrated the end of their careers. In brilliant weather and more than 30,000 enthusiastic fans, Johannes Thingnes Bø and Tarjei Bø competed against Benedikt Doll in a “legend race” and the spectators got their money's worth.

Despite an unfortunate game in which Dynamo Dresden lost to Schalke 04, the mood at the City Biathlon was not dampened. The spectators celebrated the start of the event from the start and were thrilled by the biathletes' performance. Johannes Bø, who hasn't had a rifle in his hand since March, was in top form and hit all ten targets. “It would be nice to maybe return to the Olympic Games,” said the Norwegian, who celebrated an emotional farewell with his brother and Doll.

Star line-up and program

The M4Energy City Biathlon brought together an international field of participants that had top-class athletes on offer. In addition to the Bø brothers, there were also numerous talented athletes, including the overall World Cup runner-up Lou Jeanmonnot and Éric Perrot, who attracted attention as a surprise third place in the overall World Cup. The Germans were also well represented with athletes like Philipp Nawrath, Justus Strelow and Vanessa Voigt, all of whom showed great performances last season.

• Lou Jeanmonnot: Gesamtweltcup-Zweite, vier Weltmeistertitel
• Éric Perrot: Überraschungsdritter im Gesamtweltcup, sechs WM-Medaillen
• Philipp Nawrath: Rang 14 im Gesamtweltcup, zweifacher WM-Bronzemedaillengewinner
• Justus Strelow: Zweitbester Deutscher im Gesamtweltcup, zweimal WM-Bronze
• Vanessa Voigt: Rang 25 im Gesamtweltcup, Silber- und Bronzemedaille bei Weltmeisterschaften
• Julia Tannheimer: Fünffache Jugend- und Juniorenweltmeisterin, starke Debütsaison im Weltcup

The route, which ran over 2.3 kilometers along the picturesque Dresden landmarks, was a real highlight. There were also video walls for spectators to follow the racing action up close. A new shooting range with a large video wall was installed at the Heinz Steyer Stadium to offer fans an unforgettable experience.

Special features and inclusion

A notable aspect of the M4Energy City Biathlon was the Biathlon Village, which offered numerous interactive activities and sponsor stands. In addition, the para-biathlon with visually impaired athletes and athletes with physical disabilities was part of the event, which underlined the inclusion and diversity in sport. The Saxony Championships and school sports days also took place this weekend, in which around 600 Dresden students were actively involved. Admission to the route was free, which made the event accessible to everyone.

As in previous years, the City Biathlon has established itself as a festival for the whole family and offered an all-round successful weekend for sports enthusiasts and families. While the Bø brothers celebrated their farewell, anticipation for future biathlon events in the region remains high, especially in view of the Olympic Games, where biathlon has been part of the program continuously since 1960 and is captivating more and more spectators. You can find out more about biathlon at the Olympic Games here.

Ski Nordique and City biathlon reported on the exciting events and the impressive achievements of the athletes.