In difficult conditions, the 24-year-old French biathlete won, to everyone’s surprise, the Oberhof sprint (Germany), the first race of the 4th stage of the World Cup.
What a surprise! This Thursday in Oberhof (Germany), the Frenchwoman Paula Botet – daughter of Véronique Claudel, Olympic relay champion at the Albertville Olympic Games (1992), – won the 7.5 km sprint counting for the 4th stage of the World Cup.
The 24-year-old biathlete, who replaced Sophie Chauveau at the end of December in the France group, signs her first World Cup victory. She was one of the few to achieve a flawless shooting (10/10), despite gusts of wind on the German shooting range. The Norwegian Maren Kirkeeide comes 2nd at 31 seconds, followed by the Bulgarian Milena Todorova (+35 sec). The tricolor Justine Braisaz-Bouchet finished at the foot of the podium, 40 seconds behind. The French women left their mark in Oberhof with solid races: the six biathletes finished in the first 12 places. Océane Michelon ranks 6th, Lou Jeanmonnot 7th, Jeanne Richard 11th and Julia Simon 12th.
“It’s crazy!”
The German Franziska Preuss, leader overall, had her worst performance of the season, 2 minutes behind Paula Botet, and finished 28th, leaving the Top 5 for the first time this season.
«I’m in shock, I don’t know what to say. I said to myself +You are doing anything+. Unlikely. I was freezing on the descents, the last lap was horrible, I was freezing. I dreamed of it but for it to happen to me for real… I don’t know if I’m going to sleep tonight! It’s crazy!” declared Paula Botet at the end of her race at the microphone of the Team Channel. On Saturday, the Frenchwoman will start at the head of the pursuit with the gaps created during this sprint. For the pass of two?
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