Biathlon World Cup – Fillon Maillet misses the individual 20km, small globe for Tarjei Boe, Babikov wins

Endangered format, the individual is in essence the master race of shooters. She lived up to her reputation on Thursday. Author of the only 20/20 among the 103 biathletes entered in the 20km of Antholz-Anterselva, Anton Babikov, 44th in the general classification, created the surprise by winning the 2nd victory of his career, five years after the pursuit of Ostersund. As in Sweden at the time, a compatriot accompanies him on the podium. This is the equally surprising Said Khalili (1 fault), 29th in the world, ranked 3rd at 48”. Expected at the turn with his yellow jersey as leader of the general classification, Quentin Fillon Maillet missed out. Author of a 15/20, the Frenchman only took 20th place.

Tarjei Boe took 2nd place despite an 18/20. The Norwegian had already finished 2nd in Ostersund. It is therefore he who wins the specialty globe, this 20km being the second and last of the World Cup season. This is the third time he has adorned himself with crystal in his career. And he had been waiting for this for ten years. In the shadow of his little brother Johannes Boe and Martin Fourcade, he had not won a globe since the 2010-1011 season. That season, he had won the general classification as well as the sprint and pursuit classifications.

Holder of the individual title and wearing the red bib following his opening victory in Ostersund, Sturla Holm Laegreid (17/20) settled for 5th place on Thursday. He takes 2nd place in the small globe ranking, 8 points behind his compatriot. In this race for the crystal, Simon Desthieux completes the podium behind the two Norwegians. Bad start (7/10 after two shots), he made two last perfect shots to move up to 6th place, 2’08” from Babikov.

Fillon Maillet passes by

Two other Habs finished in the top 10. Also guilty of 3 faults, Fabien Claude ranks 8th (+2’22”). In the race for the podium before committing his only two errors on the last shot, Emilien Jacquelin (18/20) settled for 10th place (+2’28”). Already struggling at Ruhpolding, he is not at all reassured on skis (30th time at 2’53”).

End of series for Quentin Fillon Maillet. Winner of the last three races, the leader of the general classification finished 20th, his second worst result of the winter after his 32nd place in the sprint at Ostersund. The Jura was however in the game on the track. He also set the 3rd best time on skis, 53” behind a Johannes Boe in a clear recovery of form (4th with 3 faults). But he made five errors behind the rifle. Too many to hope for a big result.

Fortunately for him, Sebastian Samuelsson was not there to take advantage of his setbacks. The Swede skipped the day’s event to focus on his preparation for the Olympic Games, which begin in less than three weeks. Overall, he fell to 3rd place, 118 points from Fillon-Maillet. New runner-up, Jacquelin is 101 points behind his compatriot before the mass-start on Saturday, the last individual event before Beijing.