No rest for the wicked. In Oslo (Norway), the Sunday program was busy on March 3: a mixed relay, following on from the single mixed relay. Enough to give the staff of the French biathlon team a few knots in their brains. Not that the French talents are missing, but their state of form seemed uncertain after a successful, but grueling, World Cup in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic).
The distribution of the Blues over the two events thus created an unprecedented collective in the mixed relay. The team made up of Julia Simon, Sophie Chauveau, Fabien Claude and Quentin Fillon-Maillet, had the difficult task of competing against Norway of Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold and the Boe brothers – formidable since the start of this World Cup round at home (4 victories in 5 contested events, before the mixed relay).
Not enough to inhibit the Blues, who showed themselves to be up to the challenge. Crowned world champion two weeks ago, France won the last mixed relay of the season. Thanks to an excellent shot (6 shots), they are ahead of Sweden (32 s 2) and Norway (35 s 9). After being the main leaders of the race behind the Tricolores, the Italians finished just off the podium (46.4 seconds) following a final shot that was completely missed.
“We were in front from A to Z.”
Like the season, it is the women who will have put the French team on track. Completing the entry point in record time (23 seconds), Julia Simon launched hers in the best possible way. Second in the mass start on Saturday, the Savoyarde was very solid on the skis, toughening up the pace after the second round. Her perfect shot (10/10) allowed her to pass the baton in first position to Sophie Chauveau, 31 seconds ahead of Austria and 57 seconds ahead of Norway.
For her first mixed relay, the 24-year-old biathlete knew she was being scrutinized. In Nove Mesto, Sophie Chauveau was part of the women's relay which won world gold, but she missed her passage, forced to turn in the penalty ring on the lying and standing shots. By her own admission, she therefore had “a revenge to take” on the collective format.
The Habs have this time set their sights. Alone at the head of the race and author of a remarkable 9/10 shooting (a pickaxe ball) in the rain and fog of Oslo, she took responsibility. “It makes me very happy,” she said to La Chaîne l’Equipe, after Sunday’s race. I felt good about the individual and the mass start and so I set off for the event with a lot of confidence and desire. I’m happy to be doing the relay again, especially since it’s my first career mixed relay in the World Cup.”
The icing on the cake was that Sophie Chauveau had even widened the gap on the skis to pass the baton in first position to Fabien Claude. In turn, the biathlete from Epinal (Vosges) resisted the return of his competitors. Thanks to a final formidable shot, he retained the lead with a 12-second lead over Italy and 28 seconds over Sweden to throw Quentin Fillon-Maillet.
As a boss, the latter made a final effective pass. Despite two picks, the Jurassien – who participated in all the mixed relays of the season – offered himself the luxury of a faultless last shot, synonymous with an assured victory given the gaps. “It was cool, a great relay from everyone,” he rejoiced on La Chaîne l’Equipe after coming off the podium. It hasn't been shooting very well since the start of the week, but we built shots that were good, and the skiing form was there. We were in front from A to Z, and I had fun finishing it.” One last good note to end the season.
5th place in the single mixed relay
Just before the mixed relay took place the single mixed relay. World champion in the event two weeks ago in the Czech Republic, France could legitimately hope for a podium. But the Blues completely missed it. Lou Jeanmonnot and Emilien Jacquelin had to settle for fifth place (1 min 11 s). If the Franc-Comtoise delivered a satisfactory performance, the Grenoblois appeared in great difficulty behind the rifle, forced to go through the penalty ring twice.
It was again Norway with Juni Arnekleiv and Vetle Christiansen, who won, after being decided in the photo finish with Sweden (Anna Magnusson and Sebastian Samuelsson). Finland (Suvi Minkkinen and Otto Invenius) completes the podium.
The French now have an appointment in North America to compete in the last two rounds of the World Cup, in the United States and Canada.
