It would have looked like it: Emilien Jacquelin wearing the yellow bib of the leader in the general classification on his shoulders at the start of the fourth stage of the Biathlon World Cup, from December 16 to 19, “at the start of the fourth stage of the Biathlon World Cup. house ”, in Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie)…
A few days earlier, in Hochfilzen, Austria, he had crossed the finish line in the pursuit just behind his compatriot Quentin Fillon-Maillet. A time announced third, Simon Desthieux could have completed the first 100% French podium since the end of 2019, and commentators were already seeing Jacquelin seize the lead in the World Cup.
However, after analyzing the photo finish, Desthieux was beaten by Sebastian Samuelsson. ” I am sorry for [Simon] Desthieux. But I’m leading the World Cup, so it feels good ”, reacted the Swede, a bit annoyed by the confusion of the judges, but still pragmatic.
In the game of calculations, it would not have changed anything anyway. With 250 points accumulated since the start of the season (he would have had 245 if he had been classified 4e), against 243 for Emilien Jacquelin, it is Samuelsson who will have the honor of wearing the yellow tunic at the start of the men’s sprint, this Friday, December 17 at 2:15 p.m., in the Aravis resort.
Already four podiums in six races
The reward is deserved in view of the incredible start to the season of the biathlete, who has already totaled four individual podiums in six races – beyond his 3e place of last week, he won the sprints of November 28 and December 2 and the 2e place of the pursuit of 5 December in Ostersund (Sweden).
” [Sebastian] Samuelsson was impressive, the fact that he was able to be on the pursuit podium despite four errors shows what a new level he has reached, rejoiced, after the first fortnight of the World Cup, his compatriot and former champion Helena Ekholm. For me, it’s special to see him perform so well, because we grew up in the same club and he was just a little kid running around when I was competing… ”
The native of Katrineholm still has room for improvement with the rifle
If he is very fast on skis, the native of Katrineholm still has room for improvement with the rifle with statistics still below last year : 79% on the prone shot, against 89%; 84% on standing shooting, compared to 85%. But he confirms his rise to power, after a 2020-2021 financial year marked by his very first World Cup victory, on December 5, 2020 during the pursuit of Kontiolahti (Finland), and which ended in a 6e place in the general classification.
Moreover, this gain in maturity is not limited to the track and the firing point. At 24, Sebastian Samuelsson clearly displays his convictions. As for the choice of China as the host country of the Winter Olympics (February 4 to 20) – yet the high point of the 2021-2022 season – he thus denounces the attitude of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“I lost all confidence in the CIO for a long time”, argued the biathlete in May in an interview with Sveriges Television, the public television of his country:
“Of course, it is not for him to change Chinese policy, but [les autorités] got the Olympics thanks to him and it is not possible to continue like that. We cannot attribute such an event to a dictatorship. I want us to stay at home in February and I hope that my country will boycott these Olympics because this country does not respect the Olympic values. ”
The Swede took part in his first Winter Games in 2018, in Pyeongchang, South Korea, from which he came away with two medals: silver in the pursuit and gold in the relay.
Old favorites mixed up
Sebastian Samuelsson’s sporting confirmation comes as the favorites, foremost among them Norwegians Johannes Boe and Sturla Holm Laegreid – who had dominated the previous season, finishing 1er and 2e in the general classification of the World Cup, with a thirteen point difference – have a mixed start.
More struggling than usual on skis, the first must be satisfied, for the moment, with a single individual podium, with a 3e up to the sprint on November 28 in Ostersund, and currently points to the 7e place of the general with 189 points. Victorious of the inaugural race of the season, the individual of November 27, again in Sweden, the second has not managed, for the time being, to glean any other medal and points to the 9e general position, with 155 points.
“At the start of the season, the Swedes are stronger, there is a hierarchy that is upset”
Are they saving themselves for the Olympic deadline? “To say that we are going to have a peak in shape at such and such a moment, we cannot afford it”, strongly brushed off the Norwegian men’s team’s shooting coach, Frenchman Siegfried Mazet, interviewed by The team. After the Austrian round, the latter felt that ” Les balance of power has changed ” : “At the start of the season, the Swedes are stronger, there is a hierarchy that is upset, we are no longer at all dominating as we were last year. “
After his good performance on the Hochfilzen relay on December 12, Johannes Boe could find a smile again at Le Grand-Bornand, a stage that has been successful for him in the past, with seven podiums including six victories in three editions.
Another favorite, the French Quentin Fillon-Maillet, who had finished 3e of the general classification in 2020-2021 without however having succeeded in fighting for the victory of the big crystal globe with the two Norwegians, will also have at heart, in front of his audience, to confirm his momentum after his victory in the pursuit of December 11 in Austria.
“The races last week reassure me and what I did here [au Grand-Bornand] two years ago [3e du sprint, 2e de la poursuite, 4e de la mass start] proves that I know how to adapt to the context and the noise of the supporters, argues the Jurassian. There is stress in moving around at home, but there is confidence and a lot of envy. “ Quentin Fillon-Maillet is currently at the 4e position (212 points).