She was expected and she responded. Wednesday December 4, 2024, Lou Jeanmonnot won the women's 12.5 km, in Kontiolahti (Finland), during the first individual race of the Biathlon World Cup. The native of Pontarlier becomes leader of the general classification and will wear the yellow bib during the next race.
The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection
Every day, our editorial team reserves the best regional news for you. A selection just for you, to stay in touch with your regions.
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the newsletter “The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection”. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Our privacy policy
This is what we call a champion entry, a warrior entry. Wednesday December 4, 2024, Pontissalian Lou Jeanmonnot dominated the first individual race of the season, winning the women's 12.5 km (35 minutes and 52 seconds), on the first day of the Biathlon World Cup, in Kontiolahti (Finland).
And what a race for the 26-year-old biathlete. She, who finished 2nd in the general classification last season, had to assume a new status as favorite. And Lou, bib 60 this Wednesday, took up the challenge brilliantly, after a race controlled from start to finish.
After a timid start on skis, characterized by the 15th time at 1.3 km, it was against the targets that Lou Jeanmonnot built his victory. Her first five out of five on the first prone shot puts her back in 5th place. A top 5 that she will never leave, quite the contrary.
Managing his effort, Lou climbs to 1st place from the 2nd shooting range. On the first “standing”, she once again performed flawlessly. Then begins a duel against the Swedes Oeberg and Halvarsson, faster than the Frenchwoman on skis, but less precise with the rifle.
Lou Jeanmonnot finished second in the general classification the previous season.
•
© JEFF MCINTOSH / MAXPPP
Arriving second on the 3rd shot, Lou doesn't tremble: another 5 out of 5 and confidence as a whole. Coming out first, the Franc-Comtoise will never again leave the lead of the race. Serene, she delivered a perfect final standing shot and, despite a small loss of time in the final sprint, won in 35 minutes and 52 seconds.
“It takes some luck for this to happen today” she explained after the race to our colleagues at L'Equipe TV. “But I can always rely on my shot. Since the start of the week, I had good feelings at this level“.
I couldn't win earlier in the season. I am relieved because my preparation did not go as I would have liked. I had a lot of doubts and a big desire to reassure myself. It’s done and that’s the main thing today.
Lou Jeanmonnot,at the microphone of La Chaîne The team
Behind her, the two Swedes Ella Halvarsson (+12.3 sec) and Elvira Oeberg (+56.4 sec). It's perhaps a little early to announce it loud and clear, but Lou Jeanmonnot is already positioning herself as a contender for the crystal globe, which narrowly escaped her last year.
The icing on the cake is that Lou will start with the yellow leader's bib during the next race, the women's sprint, on Saturday December 7. “This yellow bib, I went to get it” she assures. “It doesn't fall on me. I want to keep it, play it, embrace it. This is what I always wanted“.
The Pontissalian had already delivered two good first races in the Finnish event. Saturday November 30, she placed 2nd in the mixed relay, accompanied by Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Eric Perrot and Emilien Jacquelin, before going for another good second place in the women's relay the next day, with Justine Braisaz- Bouchet, always, Sophie Chauveau and Julia Simon.
