Quentin Fillon Maillet is not satisfied. Two weeks after leaving the Beijing Olympics with suitcases full of medals (five, including two gold in the individual and pursuit), the Frenchman found the joys of the world circuit on Saturday March 5 in Kontiolahti (Finland). A return to routine individually concluded with a victory in the sprint, which places him more than ever as the ultra-favorite in the race for the big crystal globe, the trophy rewarding the first in the general classification.
On the Finnish track, the Jura player combined speed on skis and precision with a rifle in hand (10/10), while the vast majority of the favorites missed bullets against the targets. He was 18 seconds ahead of Norwegian Filip Fjeld Andersen, and 30 seconds ahead of German Johannes Kuehn.
A big lead
Above all, the Jura driver once again affirmed his position as leader of the general classification. “ I still score big points overall compared to my opponents, that’s good. I wanted to continue on my good momentum and am 100% satisfied with the result »he confirmed on arrival, at the microphone of the L’Equipe channel. “ He crushed the race, he’s in great shape right now »added Simon Desthieux (17and). So fit that he took advantage of this success to also take control of the general classification of the sprint.
A situation that is all the more ideal since Fillon Maillet’s competitors failed to grab the podium on Saturday, like his compatriot and runner-up to General Emilien Jacquelin (6andtwo shooting errors), Swede Sebastian Samuelsson (5and) or Tarjei Boe, sick and absent in Finland. With 666 points, he is ahead of Jacquelin by 127 points, and Samuelsson by 142 (a victory is worth 60 points).
Leader’s yellow jersey on the shoulders, Quentin Fillon Maillet described his performance of the day as “ not exceptional”. But he doesn’t hide his ambitions as he gets closer race by race to his first big crystal globe. When it was time to finish the Beijing Games, he was already thinking about what was to come, saying “ crystal cravings » on Twitter.
Six races from consecration
Conversely, the French’s opponents already seem almost resigned while there will be two World Cup stages left after Finland (in Estonia from March 10 to 13 and in Norway from March 17 to 20). Beaten on the track on Saturday, Sebastian Samuelsson already seems to be beaten in the general classification, as he himself admitted the day before to the chain The Team. “I think the big globe is for Quentin, but I will fight for second place”explained the Swede, guilty of two faults on the standing shot during the sprint.
There are now six individual races left for Quentin Fillon Maillet to end his season in style and succeed Johannes Boe, winner of the big globe in the last three winters. But the French will no longer have to compete with his rival, the Norwegian having decided to end his season after the successful Olympics (four gold medals, one bronze).
“I would have liked him to be there to fight, but I don’t think the race for the general classification will lose interest.”, tempered Quentin Fillon Maillet after his victory. He will have the opportunity to prove it tomorrow in the chase (2:40 p.m.), where he will start in the lead.