Éric Perrot, Émilien Jaquelin and Julia Simon all finished on the podium in the pursuit this Sunday.
Éric Perrot and Julia Simon each on the second step, Émilien Jacquelin on the third: triple podium in pursuits for the French biathlon on Saturday in Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie), last stage of the World Cup before the end-of-season break year.
Norwegian boss Johannes Boe topped the men's race at midday, as did German Franziska Preuss in the women's race in the afternoon.
Even if the top step of the podium eluded the Blues on Saturday, the Marseillaise was once again improvised in the excited stands and peppered with blue-white-red flags – and even Phryges souvenir of the 2024 Olympics. Like the day before for Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, she won the sprint.
Boe didn't take offense, on the contrary. “No doubt: it’s the best atmosphere” of the World Cup, appreciates the Norwegian with now 88 individual races won (Olympics and Worlds included), more than seven victories from the record of the legend Ole Einar Bjoerndalen.
He is indeed the best biathlete of the moment. Starting on the heels – one second – of his young compatriot Martin Uldal with the gaps inherited from Thursday's sprint, Boe left his opponents no chance under the Haute-Savoie sun.
With a 19 out of 20 shooting, he won with a very comfortable margin: 27 sec 6/10th over Perrot, author of a 20 out of 20 and who started in 7th position, and 47 sec 5/10th on Jacquelin, two missed targets standing.
“Very strong emotions”
“Gorgeous ! Magic!, says Perrot, the rising star of the Blues. It’s one of my best races, both in terms of achievement and in terms of sensations.”
“Today, I felt like I was racing in my living room!” he compares. It's incredible to participate in a race in front of your family, your audience, at home. These are very strong emotions. It’s a second place, but in terms of emotions, sensations, achievement, it’s a race that’s definitely worth points!”
At 23 years old, as evidenced by his flawless performance behind the rifle in the intoxicating excitement of Grand-Bornand, Perrot continues to assert himself at the highest level, he who mimicked the big arms in the last meters. The proof: he is currently ranked fourth in the general World Cup rankings.
“I only have one thing to say about Eric: crazy maturity,” greets Blues coach Simon Fourcade. Arriving in these conditions, with one last shot, knowing that we can grab the podium, get a 5 out of 5 with the public chanting at each ball, solid.”
“He knows so much where he is going (that) sometimes I tell myself that we are almost a little useless as coaches”he smiles.
With a third podium in seven individual races, Jacquelin confirms his interesting start to the season, which puts him in third position in the general classification, with 348 points, behind Boe (504) and another Norwegian, Sturla Laegreid (399).
“The form is there too”
Like Perrot, Simon propelled herself from seventh place in the sprint to second in the pursuit (+27.3). With an 18 out of 20 on the shooting range, she placed herself behind Preuss, victorious after a single missed target, and in front of another German, Vanessa Voigt, author of a flawless score (+44.3).
Ce podium “really very, very nice”savors Simon, who is chasing his best physical form since the start of winter. “It comes a lot from the head but the shape is there too, it’s cool.”
“Coming up with two French women (with Jeanne Richard, finally 4th) on one last shot to play for a podium at home is indescribable. It transcends me, I love it and I’m having a blast”she exclaims.
Course “to erase” on the other hand for Braisaz-Bouchet, who started in pole position after his success in the sprint the day before and finally twelfth after seven shooting errors, 1 min 20 sec behind. Same failure for Quentin Fillon Maillet: his 13 out of 20 pushes him back to 24th place in today's pursuit, 2 min 18 sec behind Boe.
