Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Sunday December 15, 2024 at 3:46 p.m.
Fabien Claude, Quentin Fillon Maillet, Eric Perrot and Emilien Jacquelin allowed France to win the men's relay in Hochfilzen, 49 seconds ahead of Norway. This is already the second blue relay victory, after that of Kontiolahti.
The Hochfilzen stage was already successful for the French biathlon team, with five podiums in five races. It ended in the most beautiful way, with the victory of the men's relay! As in Kontiolahti two weeks ago, Fabien Claude, Quentin Fillon Maillet, Eric Perrot and Emilien Jacquelin won, largely dominating the competition. Norway, second, is relegated, 49 seconds behind. Sweden, third, is relegated to two minutes. And we had to wait more than 4'30 to see all the Top 10 teams in this race arrive! Fabien Claude, third in the sprint on Friday, showed that he was in good shape by passing the baton to Quentin Fillon Maillet in second position, six seconds behind Norway's Sturla Laegreid, after only having drawn a ball. The former World Cup winner then drew once on each shot but skied much faster than Tarjei Boe (also 2 picks), which allowed him to finish his relay in the lead, with a 27 second lead. on Norway.
Soerum cracks, Jacquelin takes advantage
It was therefore the turn of Eric Perrot, less brilliant since the start of the weekend than in Kontiolahti, to defend the French colors. Opposed to Johannes Boe, he drew three times, like the legendary Norwegian, who skied faster, so that Norway was only half a second behind France at the time of the third handover. All that remained was for Emilien Jacquelin and Vebjorn Soerum to conclude. And it was the Frenchman who did the best! After his misadventure on Saturday, where he fell at the end of the pursuit while he was in the race for victory, Jacquelin missed his first shot, having to draw three times, which allowed his opponent to exit with 18 seconds left. 'advance. But on the last shot, the Frenchman drew twice while Soerum was forced to take a penalty lap! A crippling handicap for Norway, which never managed to come back from France, who won with a 49-second lead! A magnificent collective victory for the Blues, who call for others next week at home, in Grand-Bornand!
WORLD CUP / HOCHFILZEN (AUSTRIA)
Relay ranking (4×7.5km) – Sunday December 15, 2024
1- France in 1h23'04″3 (0 penalty laps + 10 picks)
2- Norway at 49″ (1+8)
3- Sweden at 1'59 (1+14)
4- Slovenia at 2'06 (0+6)
5- Germany at 2'27 (1+13)
6- United States at 3'01 (0+10)
7- Italy at 3'18 (2+13)
8- Finland at 3'25 (1+11)
9- Czechia at 3'51 (2+11)
10- Estonia at 4'34 (0+7)
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