The German air did not succeed for the Blues. For the first time this season, there were no French podiums in the individual events in Ruhpolding. If the women’s relay saved the furniture by winning on Wednesday, the Blues overall had a complicated weekend in Bavaria. The latter ended with a Norwegian hat-trick in the men’s pursuit, won by Johannes Dale ahead of Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen (+1″7), winner of the sprint on Saturday, and the leader of the general classification Johannes Boe (+2″4).
On the Blue side, satisfaction came from Émilien Jacquelin. Author of an average start to the World Cup, like the French men’s biathlon, the Grenoblois signed his best performances of the season, finishing fourth in the sprint and the pursuit. After missing the start of the race this Sunday, the Habs made a great comeback thanks to two successful standing shots, falling just nine seconds behind Dale in the final. Author of a 17/20, Éric Perrot also finished the race in the top 10 (9th).
Fillon Maillet gives up the pursuit
On the other hand, the leader of the Blues Quentin Fillon Maillet did not participate in the pursuit. Neither injured nor ill, the Frenchman, who is having a complicated season, has decided to withdraw to preserve himself for the Antholz-Anterselva races on the weekend of January 18. After completing the sprint in 33rd place on Saturday, 1′26 behind Christiansen, the winner of the big crystal globe 2021-2022 had very little chance of leaving Ruhpolding with a result in the pursuit, he who is also won in the general classification of the World Cup (15th with 344 points behind J.Boe before the pursuit).
“Everything is fine, I just lack energy on the skis,” he confided to the microphones of La Chaîne L’Équipe. I’m saving myself for next week. As the general’s objective was no longer relevant, I preferred to ignore it. During my good years, it was easy but now I’m going through a very complicated period. »
Braisaz-Bouchet loses his yellow bib
On the women’s side, who set off on the Chiemgau Arena at 12:30 p.m., the Italian Lisa Vittozi took the victory on the gong from Ingrid Tandrevold, who started with an 18″ lead following her success in the sprint on Friday. The Norwegian’s grief was nevertheless short-lived, because thanks to her big German weekend, the 27-year-old biathlete took back the yellow bib as leader of the World Cup from Justine Braisaz-Bouchet.
Already in difficulty in the sprint (12th), the Frenchwoman, penalized by her two missed passes in the prone shot, completed her pursuit in 7th place, 46″2 behind Vittozi. She is now nine points behind the new boss and will try to get back on track next weekend in Antholz (Italy) for the sixth round of the World Cup.
Already fourth on Friday, Lou Jeanmonnot once again finished at the foot of the podium (+31″1), consolidating her status as the best Blue of the weekend.
