Almost perfect behind the targets, Lou Jeanmonnot wins on the pursuit d’Oberhof. While we long believed in a French quadruple, it was ultimately the Norwegian Maren Kirkeeide who took second place ahead of the Swede Elvira Oeberg who made a crazy comeback. Océane Michelon and Jeanne Richard in the flower ceremony.
Third success of the winter for Lou Jeanmonnot
Part 7, about forty seconds from Paula Botet, Lou Jeanmonnot was patient to build her third victory of the season. Faulty on a repeat on his first layershe then remains impeccable against the targets and gradually gains ground, until arriving alone in the lead on the last standing. A perfectly mastered ultimate 5/5 which allows him to cross the finish line in first position and come back to around a hundred points. Franziska Preuss to the general. She will also wear the red bib of the specialty on the next pursuit in Antholz.
Maren Kirkeeide resists, Elvira Oeberg impresses
Already second in sprint THURSDAY, Maren Kirkeeide retains his place and therefore enjoys the joys of the podium again for the second time in his career. Tenth at halfway (8/10 on the layer), the Norwegian took advantage of her opponents’ errors on the standing to get back on the box.
On the third step, we find Elvira Oeberg yet left in 37e position ! The Swede simply achieved one of the best comebacks in the history of biathlon. Best ski time (31 seconds ahead of Anamarija Lampic), better pursuit of the day (more than a minute ahead of Lou Jeanmonnot), she could even have believed in second place if she hadn’t missed a target on his last shot.
Flowers for Océane Michelon and Jeanne Richard, all the Blues in the top 15
At the foot of the podium, we find another Frenchwoman in the person ofOcéane Michelon who signs his best career performance. Exiting sixth from the last shot in a large group, the young French rider was unfortunately unable to do anything against Elvira Oeberg on the last lap and had to settle for fourth place.
The German Selina Grotian is fifth (18/20) and ahead of a small tenth Jeanne Richard which confirms its fine regularity with a third flower ceremony this season.
Behind the Bulgarian Milena Todorova (18/20) and the Finn Suivi Minkkinen (18/20), we find the two most experienced of the French Team who put in a frustrating performance. Faulty four times on his layer, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet recovered well on the standing and finished in ninth position. Julia Simon closes the top 10 with a 15/20. In the lead at mid-race, the double world champion pursuit completely missed out on her first standing. By making mistakes four times, she saw all her chances of victory disappear.
Finally, Paula Botetthe big winner of Thursday’s sprint, finished fourteenth, the fault of five errors behind the rifle.
Note the twentieth place of the general leader Franziska Preuss (17/20) who therefore sees the gap narrowing with his closest adversaries Lou Jeanmonnot et Elvira Oeberg, first and third in the day’s race.
Results :
Photo credit: Thibaut/NordicFocus
