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The cold shower for the French
Lots of rain to end this crazy week at Grand Bornand with a mass start obviously eagerly awaited by the 20,000 fans and the entire French team, determined to shine once again.
But, after a poorly taken first prone shot, the Blues will all fall behind and they will never be able to get back on the Norwegian train, led by the Boe brothers and a formidable succession.
Today the French biathletes will have to make do with crumbs, which wasn't really the plan. Fabien Claude, however, had a good race with a 9th place and Eric Perrot, less good on skis, finished 11th with two faults.
Emilien Jacquelin and Quentin Fillon Maillet finished 16th and 18th, more than 1min30 behind Tarjei Boe, Antonin Guigonnat 29th. And beyond today's result sheet, all the Tricolores are letting big points slip away for the overall World Cup.
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The brilliant revenge of Tarjei Boe
What if the Norwegian coaches had done everything right? We will never know for sure but by replacing Tarjei Boe with Martin Uldal in the sprint, they allowed the young talent to win his first World Cup success.
As a result, Tarjei Boe, annoyed and wound up like a clock, came to win the mass start this morning, also taking advantage of a physical freshness that the others did not have.
But the 36-year-old national team veteran also showed, and it was necessary, that he still possessed the genes of the great champion, finishing his race with a 19/20 and a lot of energy.
An energy reserve which allowed him to resist the return of the unexpected Danilo Riethmuller, 25 years old, who finished 2nd just 4sec behind. The German celebrates his first career podium and showed great qualities on skis.
To complete the podium, who other than the boss Johannes Boe, who came to beat Sturla Laegreid in the final, before crossing the line, arms raised to celebrate the success of his older brother.
And as if that were not enough, Norway places Martin Uldal and Vebjoern Soerum, the next generation, in 5th and 6th rows. Vetle Christiansen and Endre Stroemsheim have concerns for the month of January, because behind them, a certain Johan Olav Botn also wants his place.
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In the general classification of the World Cup, Johannes Boe flies away with 569 points ahead of Sturla Laegreid 454 points and Emilien Jacquelin 373 points. Eric Perrot follows with 368 points.
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The complete ranking HERE
World Cup rankings HERE
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