The first relay team members all start at the same time. This makes the relay race exciting to watch because you can always see who is in the lead.
- Four team members each race 7.5 km for men, and 6 km for women
- Two shooting bouts per competitor (prone/standing)
- After the third round, the athlete hands over to that team’s next competitor
- The last team member crosses the finish line
- The team that crosses the finish line first wins provided there were no time penalties
In a relay race, the athletes try to shoot as quickly as possible to immediately return to the track after they have hit all the targets.
- Each competitor carries munition for three extra shots
- Replacement munition must be loaded manually if targets are missed
- Reloading is difficult and tedious under time pressure
The race regulations as well as ranking in the World Cup determine participation in the relay races, though in some races participation is determined by lottery. Thus during the World Cup races, the start numbers reflect the current ranking in the World Cup relay race.
- The start number determines the starting lane and shooting range number
- After the second shooting bout, the racers use the first available target from the right as they arrive in the shooting range
- Relay team members have color-coded start numbers:
- Racer 1: red
- Racer 2: green
- Racer 3: yellow
- Racer 4: blue
