We hardly talk about it anymore, but Covid can still have serious consequences, including in biathlon, and Lou Jeanmonnot can attest to this. Sunday March 17, the Frenchwoman won the mass start of Canmore (Canada), last event of the 2023-2024 season, and noted that her absence due to virus, in December, during two events contested in Lenzerheide (Switzerland), ultimately cost him first place in the general classification of the World Cup, which went to the Italian Lisa Vittozzi.
Lou Jeanmonnot, who was not expected at such a level this year, will however be able to erase these regrets by contemplating the small crystal globe of the mass start, which she won this Sunday thanks to this victory acquired at the end of a controlled race where she was formidable in shooting (19/20). In the discipline rankings, the 25-year-old biathlete is ahead of her compatriot Julia Simon, “only” 7th this Sunday.
On this day after school, Loujeanmonnot was, as very often this season, accompanied by another Frenchwoman on the podium, Gilonne Guigonnat (3rd), who has never done better at the highest level. Justine Braisaz-Bouchet finished 4th in the race, despite four shooting errors.
An exceptional winter
This new success for a tricolor also completes an exceptional winter for the French women's biathlon team. In total, Jeanmonnot, Simon and Braisaz-Bouchet won 17 World Cup events, an exceptional vintage. During the world championships, the Blues also shone: four gold medals, one silver and four bronze, to which should be added two successes in the two mixed relays.
If we look back at pre-season, this overall performance is something of a miracle, the atmosphere in the French team having been weighed down by private matters (Justine Braisaz-Bouchet filed a complaint against Julia Simon for alleged fraudulent use of his bank card, which Simon, briefly taken into police custody, disputes).
The Italian Lisa Vittozzi did not have to deal with such a context and her consistency throughout the season ended up paying off. After his victory in the pursuit on Saturday, he was promised the big crystal globe. She just had to hope that her main opponent, Ingrid Trandevold, did not shine in the last race. The Norwegian having finished the mass start in 8th position, Vittozzi was able to complete her final lap calmly, Italian flag flying, in 21st place. “It’s incredible, I’m very moved and very proud,” Vittozzi explained to La Chaîne L’Equipe. It wasn't a perfect race, but it's good enough. »
