Time for the last races of the biathlon weekend in Grand-Bornand. This Sunday, the thirty best men and women challenge each other in the mass start, the race of kings and queens. The day after three French podiums in pursuit, will the Blues manage to climb to the top of the box? Start of the men's race at 12:30 p.m.
The wind rises in Grand-Bornand
12 hours: This is neither a Ken Loach nor Hayao Miyazaki film, but reality: the wind is rising in Grand-Bornand. The first gusts sweep away certain areas of the launch pad. It's going to be very complicated for this male mass start whose departure will take place in exactly half an hour… Take out the popcorns: a great show guaranteed!
11h45 : Note that today is a special day for Fabien Claude. The Vosges celebrates its 30th anniversary this Sunday. And why not a first World Cup victory to celebrate? In any case we wish him.
11h42 : Emilien Jacquelin, Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon Maillet and all the other biathletes are currently getting their bearings in front of the shooting range, making the final adjustments to their rifle. All these beautiful people are bundled up in coats, hoods on their heads.
Some set off for a warm-up on skis, on the slope.
Eric Perrot with the red bib and fine trigger
11:35 a.m.: It's a day like no other for Eric Perrot. Winner of the Kontiolahti mass start at the beginning of December (ahead of Quentin Fillon Maillet), the Savoyard is at the top of the specialty ranking and will therefore wear the red bib this Sunday.
A little statistic concerning Eric Perrot: in the first two races of the week at Grand-Bornand, he was quite simply the author of a flawless shooting. All 30 bullets he fired hit the target.
The yellow World Cup leader's bib will be on the back of Johannes Boe.
>> READ. Our interview with Eric Perrot before the World Cup in Grand-Bornand
Five French people at the start of this mass start
11:30 a.m.: This is proof that France is a great biathlon nation: five Blues (all in the world top 25) are at the start of this mass start this Sunday. The heroes of Saturday's pursuit obviously, Eric Perrot and Emilien Jacquelin. But also Quentin Fillon Maillet, Fabien Claude and Antonin Guigonnat.
Only Norway is better represented with six men at the start including Tarjei Boe, who is back. Endre Stromsheim is out.
The start list for the men’s mass start
11h25 : What is mass start? For the uninitiated, this is THE queen race. Only the 30 best in the world (the first 25 in the general classification and the best 5 in the stage) are at the start and leave together. On the program, 15 kilometers to cover and four shots are planned: two lying shots then two standing shots.
11:15 a.m.: To complete the chapter of conditions, the wind is also expected in Grand-Bornand this Sunday with gusts of up to 45 km/h according to Météo France. Enough to complicate the task of the athletes even more, especially on the shooting range.
IN PICTURES – Conditions are difficult this Sunday in Grand-Bornand
The umbrellas are out in the Grand-Bornand stand. Photo EB
The shooting range is covered. Photo EB
The umbrellas are out in the Grand-Bornand stand. Photo EB
The shooting range is covered. Photo EB
Maximum humidity in Grand-Bornand. Photo EB
Rain already here and snow expected?
11:10 a.m.: Conditions-wise, it's a difficult day that awaits the 60 biathletes (30 men and 30 women) at the start this Sunday, but also the spectators. It rained last night on the resort nestled at 1300 meters above sea level, after some snowfall in the evening. The snow could return a little later in the day when it is currently 0.3 degrees. Covered with a tarpaulin, the carpets of the shooting range are particularly waterlogged.
>> READ. How conditions can alter the performance of the French.
11:05 a.m.: The atmosphere is already boiling at Grand-Bo! The first spectators have been in place since 9 a.m. this morning to witness the highlight of this World Cup stage in Haute-Savoie.
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11 a.m.: Hello, and welcome to this live stream for the last day of competition at Grand-Bornand. The apotheosis of a week of celebration with the mass starts, the race of kings and queens. The first meeting of the day is set for 12:30 p.m. with the big confrontation of the 30 best men.
