A 5/5 on a last express shot, and a huge smile. This is the image of the day in Sweden, offered by Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, alone on the shooting range and thus offering victory to the Blue. The French had not won a relay in the Biathlon World Cup since January 19, 2019, almost three years.
Well launched by Anaïs Bescond, 2nd in the pursuit on Saturday, France took the lead shortly before the halfway mark following a great massacre among their rivals during the standing shot of the second relay runners. Norway (1 lap), Italy (1 lap) and Sweden (2 laps) had to turn on the penalty ring, leaving Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet alone in front. Julia Simon (10/10 shooting), yet in great difficulty at the start of the season, then Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (9/10) then managed to maintain the large French lead.
At the finish line, the French quartet is ahead of Belarus by 57.9 seconds, and Sweden of the Oeberg sisters by almost one minute and ten. After two delicate years, the Bleues confirmed with this success their return to the foreground, materialized by three podiums in four individual races (2 for Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet, 1 for Anaïs Bescond).