Biathlon: Jeanne Richard one breath away from a first top 3
It is under thick snowflakes and in an intense wind that the female biathletes of the biathlon world cup put an end to the week of competitions organized over the last four days on the slopes of Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie) and where a total of 66,500 spectators attended the festivities.
Heroic throughout the Bornandin course with a magnificent 19/20, Jeanne Richard has long believed she was on the path to a first podium in his young career. And yet, the Haut-Savoyarde, as during the pursuit disputed the day before, content with fourth place in the final.
Beaten by just one tenth in the final straight by Paulina Batovska-Fialkova (17/20) – who returned to the top 3 in the elite after a high-flying performance on skis – the Frenchwoman experienced a cruel outcome. Combative to the end on the boards, however, the Gêtoise will have missed it at times, who can still be satisfied with having competed at the level of the best in the world throughout the weekend.
At the front of the competition, a duel between two Germans hosted the last round of the day. A real fight at the end of which the phenomenal Selina Grotian emerged victorious. Wrong only once on the mats, the biathlon nugget from across the Rhine has afforded the luxury of ahead of her compatriot and world number one Franziska Preuss by almost 13 seconds on the line.
An XXL performance which allows him to sign his very first career success only 20 years old. From now on tenth in the general classification two rounds and runner-up to Jeanne Richard in less than twenty-three years, the promising young woman finishes this first block of the season in style.
Julia Simon with flowers, Océane Michelon returns to the top 10
Despite a difficult day of shooting where she let a total of four bullets escape, Julia Simon once again proved that she was always formidable in confrontation races. In the fight until the end, the Savoyard crossed the finish line in sixth position to land a place in the flower ceremony.
Six seconds later, Océane Michelon took an excellent eighth place, first in the top 10 in Aravis. Still in good shape on the boards and despite four mistakes on the shooting range, the Bauges biathlete closes her first start of the season in the elite.
Party at the foul three times this Sunday, Lou Jeanmonnot, for his part, was unable to deliver the hoped-for services. on the slopes of Aravis. On the fresh white coat gradually settling on the route, Doubienne finally crossed the line in fourteenth position.
Her teammate Sophie Chauveau finishes in the top 20 after a 15/20 while Justine Braisaz-Bouchet knew one ordeal on his four salvos with a total of seven faults which did not allow him to aim higher than twenty-third place.
The live data of the women's mass start
The complete ranking
The general classification of the mass start
The general ranking of the World Cup
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