Biathlon – Anterselva – Norway continues its full card on the relay, France 2nd

Like their female counterparts, winners earlier this Sunday, the French raised their heads during the men’s relay from Antholz-Anterselva. If the victory went to the untouchable Norway, who arrived a minute ahead, the Blues can be satisfied with finishing 2nd. This is their best result of the winter in the relay, after two third places. Above all, Antonin Guigonnat, Fabien Claude, Emilien Jacquelin and Quentin Fillon Maillet corrected the target (6 picks only, like Norway) after the nightmarish chase the day before. Enough to project yourself on the Oberhof Worlds with a smile.

There was nothing to do against Sturla Laegreid, the Boe brothers and Vetle Christiansen. However, France was in the lead at the end of the first stint. On a great day, both in shooting and on the piste, Guigonnat passed the baton to Claude with a 12” lead over Norway, despite using a pickaxe like Laegreid. Claude kept the controls until shooting standing, where he drew once, like lying down. But when we thought he could finish strong, the Vosgien got stuck on the last lap.

Jacquelin finds herself

Out on Tarjei Boe’s skis, Claude finally conceded 9” to the Norwegian, clinging to the wake of the German Johannes Kühn. Johannes Boe was therefore already alone in the lead when starting. Still imperial on the track, he failed twice when lying down, which allowed Emilien Jacquelin to stay at 12”. The Frenchman reassured himself on this stint by making a very fast 10/10, especially standing up. But Boe didn’t open the door as he refueled on his last shot. At the time of launching Christiansen, Norway had already taken a solid option on the win, Fillon Maillet starting 30” behind.

The outgoing winner of the World Cup could never hope to return: the Norwegian was slightly on the track and only drew twice, once lying down and the other standing up. QFM even made one more mistake (1 lying down, 2 standing up). But no matter, there was no room to come back and the podium had already been assured for a long time. Third despite a penalty lap from Roman Rees on the 8th and last shot, Germany finished 2’17”, about twenty seconds ahead of Italy.

Eight consecutive successes for Boe

The Norwegian men’s relay has won seven in a row, three last season and four this winter. Johannes Boe remains undefeated in 2023. The Norwegian has won all his races since the new year, six individually and two in the relay. Eight victories in a row which further consolidate his status as a man to beat before the Oberhof Worlds, the next meeting for biathletes in two big weeks.