Julia Simon and her teammates in the women’s relay won the race in Ruhpolding (Germany), Wednesday January 10, 2024. TOBIAS SCHWARZ / AFP
When the French men’s team cries, their female counterpart never stops laughing. Wednesday January 10, on the German site of Ruhpolding, the French relay runners, with a unique composition, won for the second time in four collective races contested since the start of the season.
Read also: Biathlon: Julia Simon and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet shine in Oberhof, the Blues in the fog
Lou Jeanmonnot, Jeanne Richard, Sophie Chauveau and Julia Simon beat the Swedes and the Germans. Winners of the first two relays, the Norwegians won from the start to finish in an unusual 10th place, more than 3 min 15 s behind the Blues. This is the worst result for the Nordics in thirty-five relays.
However, the management of the French women had the luxury of leaving to rest the one who wears the yellow bib of the World Cup, which designates the leader of the individual general classification: Justine Braisaz-Bouchet. The latter can now calmly concentrate on the sprint, scheduled for Friday, and the pursuit on Sunday.
Golden first for Jeanne Richard
Germany, country of biathlon, is doing well for the French. A few days after their success in Oberhof, the French team showed itself to be perfectly balanced in Ruhpolding: each of the runners scored a nine out of ten on the shot, using only one pick ball.
For her first start in an elite relay, the young Jeanne Richard, 21, rose to the occasion. Leader of the IBU circuit, the antechamber of the World Cup, the second runner kept the French team among the leading teams.
Julia Simon, Sophie Chauveau, Jeanne Richard and Lou Jeanmonnot (from left to right), in Ruhpolding (Germany), January 10, 2024. TOBIAS SCHWARZ / AFP
Performance also successful by the third Blue, Sophie Chauveau, 24 years old, who passed the last relay only 5 seconds behind the lead of the most experienced of the day, Julia Simon (27 years old).
Winner of the last individual race in Oberhof, ahead of Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, the latter finished the job perfectly by putting pressure on the shot and containing the Swede Elvira Oeberg, ultra-fast on skis and 3rd in the general individual ranking. After a sluggish start at the end of November, Julia Simon, 5th in the ranking, shows that she will have to be counted on for this second part of the season.
In a month, the French biathletes, who have never seemed so strong, are shaping up to be the favorites for the world championships, which will take place from February 5 to 18 in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic.
Read also: Biathlon: Justine Braisaz-Bouchet wins a fourth World Cup event in a row