The French held their place as big favorites by winning the women’s relay for the first time in their history, Saturday during the Biathlon World Championships in Nove Mesto. Lou Jeanmonnot, Sophie Chauveau, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Julia Simon gave France a ninth medal in the Czech Republic, the fifth gold, consolidating the Blues’ first place in the medal rankings.
After two victories in the mixed and single mixed relays, France is currently doing well in the team events, before the men’s relay on Saturday afternoon, a priori promised to Norway. The French won with 38 seconds ahead of Sweden and 1min14 over Germany.
New medal for Julia Simon
Lou Jeanmonnot put the French quartet into orbit thanks to an impressive first stint, during which she scored a 10/10. Things then got worse when Sophie Chauveau passed by, feverish when confirming her team’s lead: the 24-year-old biathlete had to turn twice on the penalty ring, the fault of a faulty shot. Chauveau launched Justine Braisaz-Bouchet 45 seconds behind the race leader, but the third French runner then launched a spectacular comeback, using only one pickaxe.
Supersonic on skis, better than her rivals on a windy launch pad, Braisaz-Bouchet restored France to first place. Ideal for the big winner of these Worlds, Julia Simon, winner of the pursuit/sprint block and last French relay runner. Simon then maintained the Blue lead, despite a scare during the standing shot (three picks), and raced to victory, a first for a French women’s relay at the World Championships.
The men’s relay will start at 4:30 p.m., with the Norwegians heavily favored, thanks to their three titles in the individual events, including two triples.