Annecy – Le Grand Bornand – Quentin Fillon Maillet, a dream chase in front of a jubilant audience

The total for Quentin Fillon-Maillet! In the incandescent atmosphere of Grand-Bornand, the Jurassien made a double blow this Saturday by winning the pursuit and taking the lead in the general classification. Flawless behind the rifle (20/20), Fillon-Maillet won with a 16 “lead over Russian Eduard Latypov and Norwegian Vetle Sjastad Christiansen.

The epilogue of the week, Sunday during the mass-start, promises to be particularly attractive: the French will wear the leader’s yellow bib in front of his audience.

Starting in fourth position at 21 seconds Johannes Boe, Fillon-Maillet took advantage of the errors of the Norwegian (2 faults from the first shot) then of Latypov (1 error on the second shot) to find himself in the lead in the 3rd lap, in the company of the Russian and his compatriot Emilien Jacquelin. To show who was the boss, he made the effort in the last embankment of the circuit to be able to settle on target n ° 1 for the first standing shot. A strategy that pays off. Latypov (1 fault) and Jacquelin (2 faults) gave in. Not Fillon-Maillet.

First success in Grand-Bornand

Alone in the lead with half a minute ahead of his first pursuers, he then perfectly resisted the immense pressure that weighed on his shoulders during the last shot, in front of a crowd committed to his cause. The targets fell again. All. All he had to do then, in his last turn, was to savor his triumph. The eighth of his career, the second of the winter. And the first in Grand-Bornand.

“You were great”. The words are from Martin Fourcade, who came to congratulate his former teammate just before the official ceremony. This triumph at home is accompanied by the yellow bib of the leader of the general classification. A first in his career. By three and four points respectively, he is ahead of former leader Sebastian Samuelsson (11th this Saturday) and Emilien Jacquelin (9th).

The latter was, however, in an excellent position to take the tunic. But he let his chance pass by cracking during the two standing shots (2 then 3 faults). He will have a new opportunity on Sunday, during the mass-start. Fillon-Maillet, already winner of a first pursuit in Hochfilzen last weekend, also takes the red bib of the specialty. Again to the detriment of Jacquelin (11 points difference).

Third Frenchman of the day, Fabien Claude made a superb comeback (40th to 14th) thanks to a 19/20. Simon Desthieux was content with 17th place (4 faults). Antonin Guigonnat ranked 23rd despite 5 errors. These three will also be part of the mass-start.