Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Saturday December 14, 2024 at 12:56 p.m.
Fourth in the sprint on Friday, Lou Jeanmonnot won the pursuit this Saturday at Hochfilzen, thanks to a flawless shooting. Julia Simon and Gilonne Guilonnat also finished in the Top 10.
Magnificent Lou Jeanmonnot! Already victorious in the Kontiolahti individual at the season opener, the 26-year-old French biathlete took on the pursuit of Hochfilzen, after a perfect race! Fourth in the sprint on Friday, 22 seconds behind winner Franziska Preuss, the Franc-Comtoise woman could legitimately aim for a podium, and she did better than that, with a big victory without the slightest error behind the rifle! After the first shot, Jeanmonnot had already moved up to third place, 21 seconds behind Preuss and 2 behind Knotten, while Sophie Chauveau, who had brilliantly finished second in the sprint, had already made a mistake. On the second shot, Jeanmonnot gained another place, finding himself 21 seconds behind Preuss, while Knotten was still efficient on the shot but less quick on the skis. It was the third shot that changed the Frenchwoman's race, since she again achieved a flawless performance, while Preuss made two errors and that Knotten, at 15/15 shooting, found himself 26 seconds behind. All that remained was not to crack on the last shot, and Jeanmonnot did not tremble, achieving a 20/20 that was ultimately quite rare in a career, before going on to win the victory, with 34 seconds ahead of Vanessa Vogt, who finished 13th. and also author of a flawless score, and 35 on Preuss. Here she is second in the World Cup rankings, the place in which she finished last season.
Simon et Guigonnat's comeback
Julia Simon, for her part, achieved one of the most beautiful comebacks of this pursuit, finishing 6th even though she had started 17th, despite two shooting errors. And what can we say about Gilonne Guigonnat, who finished 9th even though she was 32nd in the sprint! Sophie Chauveau finally took 11th place, while Justine Braisaz-Bouchet suffered again in shooting, with six errors on the clock and a final 16th place. It is a relay which will be on the program on Sunday, and the French staff will then have to decide which girl is leaving the World Cup circuit and will therefore not compete in the Grand-Bornand stage next week. Not easy…
WORLD CUP / HOCHFILZEN PURSUIT (AUSTRIA)
Final classification (10km) – Saturday December 14, 2024
1- Lou Jeanmonnot (FRA) in 29'48 (0 faults)
2- Vanessa Vogt (GER) at 33″8 (0)
3- Franziska Preuss (ALL) at 35″3 (1)
4- Ella Halvarsson (SUE) à 39″5 (1)
5- Marketa Davidova (RTC) at 56″ (2)
6- Julia Simon (FRA) at 1'06 (2)
7- Suvi Minkkinen (FIN) à 1'11″2 (2)
8- Elvira Oeberg (SUE) at 1'19 (3)
9- Gilonne Guigonnat (FRA) at 1'15″ (2)
10- Karoline Knotten (NOR) à 1'27 (2)
…
11- Sophie Chauveau (FRA) at 1'32 (4)
14- Jeanne Richard (FRA) at 1'42 (2)
16- Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (FRA) at 1'50 (6)S
19- Océane Michelon (FRA) at 1'57 (4)
…
