Biahtlon – Östersund: French women win their first relay since 2019

They did! Almost three years after their last success in the discipline, in January 2019 in Ruhpolding, the French women won the first relay of the season this Sunday in Östersund, after an absolutely perfect race. With only four picks, Anais Bescond, Anais Chevalier-Bouchet, Julia Simon and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet did not crack on the shooting range and took advantage of their current form on the skis to clearly stand out from the middle of the race. On arrival, the French are ahead of Belarus (+57 “9) and Sweden (+ 1’09” 6), which made a crazy comeback at home to beat Norway in the sprint.

Thank you ladies! We knew that the Habs were in good shape. The results of the previous days had shown it, but now it remained to be confirmed all together, on the track. As a team. And that’s exactly what happened. From the first, Anaïs Bescond, to the final runner, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, all the girls responded to succeed in the perfect race, or almost. So, yes for fans of absolute perfection, the Blue have drawn four times, with two failures for Bescond, a Simon and one for Braisaz. But no one did better. Worse, only Germany managed to shoot so well. And Julia Simon was the symbol.

Braisaz-Bouchet in Lucky Luke mode

While she suffered since the start of the shooting season, after many failures, the Habs this time managed the 9/10, at the best of times. At this moment, the French team was already far ahead after the exceptional stint from Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet, author of a magnificent 10/10 shooting and supersonic on the skis. Because, beyond having shot very well, the French have also mastered their subject on the track, often competing with Norway and Belarus. Only Elvira Oeberg, author of a third fire relay for Sweden, will have managed to regain their time. But it was already too late for the Swedes.

Possessing a lot of margin when starting her final stint, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet did not crack on the last standing shot. Symbol of a day when everything was successful for Les Bleues, she even allowed herself to take risks with an ultra-fast shot in Lucky Luke mode… and it was over. No, definitely, nothing could deprive the French team of a first success this season, the first in the women’s relay since January 2019 at Ruhpolding. It was already with that quartet.