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Lou Jeanmonnot wins his fourth victory of the season

Lou Jeanmonnot, January 16 in Ruhpolding. TOBIAS SCHWARZ / AFP

Imperial in shooting, with a flawless performance, French biathlete Lou Jeanmonnot won the individual event on Thursday January 16 in Ruhpolding in the Bavarian Alps. She had already won, on December 4, 2024, during the first “individual” in Kontiolahti (Finland) – in a format shortened to 12.5 km, instead of 15 km. In Germany, she is ahead of the local of the stage, Franziska Preuss, and the Swiss Amy Baserga. Océane Michelon takes 4e place.

For Lou Jeanmonnot, the failure of Grand Bornand, in December 2024 (35e you sprint, 18e of the pursuit and 14e of the mass start) is forgotten. Thanks to this fourth individual victory of the season, she consolidates her second place in the general ranking of the World Cup. She is a little behind the leader, Franziska Preuss, who was ahead of her by 116 points before this fifth stage. From now on, the French biathlete is more than 101 points behind her rival.

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His success on Thursday is not surprising. With its four shooting sessions, in 15 km, the individual is a format that she particularly appreciates, because it gives pride of place to excellent shooters. A missed ball penalizes one minute, and management is essential: athletes must avoid arriving out of breath and without lucidity on the shooting range, even if the fastest can sometimes take time back on the skis.

However, Lou Jeanmonnot is among the best shooters on the circuit (she finished last season with a 92% shooting success rate). Since she was 14, the native of Pontarlier () has used the same rifle, competition after competition, even if it means having to repair it regularly. She is rewarded for this extraordinary loyalty, which resembles superstition.

One of the big contenders for medals at the World Cup

Second in the World Cup in 2023-2024, behind the Italian Lisa Vittozzi who beat her by 23 points, does the new leader of the team have the means to do better? Since his World Cup debut in 2021 in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic), Lou Jeanmonnot has taken his time to establish himself at the highest level.

“I experienced some difficulties in getting to know and understand myself well, she explained before the season to Monde. I was sort of in the transition period between a child’s body and an adult’s body. I needed a little time to find the click on the slopes. »

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It was only during the 2022-2023 season that she had her first podiums: two second places during the individual in Ruhpolding, and the mass start in Östersund (Sweden). In 2023-2024, the season in which it flourished, the Habs won four World Cup victories and brought home four World Cup medals.

One month before the world championships, which will take place from February 12 to 23 in Lenzerheide (Switzerland), Lou Jeanmonnot is establishing herself as one of the major contenders for medals. While waiting for this meeting, she will try to continue her rise in the general classification, during the mass start which will take place on Sunday. The match against Franziska Preuss promises to be spectacular.

Anthony Hernandez

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