Biathlon: the French win the Ruhpolding relay in the World Cup

Julia Simon et les Françaises remportent le relais de Ruhpolding. dpa - Sven Hoppe

The French biathletes won the relay in Ruhpolding (ALL), confirming their clear domination in the World Cup.

French biathletes Lou Jeanmonnot, Jeanne Richard, Sophie Chauveau and Julia Simon continued their momentum on Wednesday, winning the relay (4×6 km) in Ruhpolding (Germany) in the World Cup, just three days later a victory in the same format on Sunday at Oberhof.

Despite the absence of Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, left to rest, the tricolors continued, finishing their race with four picks, ahead of the Swedes and the Germans.

Other favorites, the Norwegians, only 10th, suffered from the standing shooting errors of their first runner, Marit Skogan, who had to do two penalty laps, a delay that was almost impossible to recover from on a course where it is very difficult to make or close gaps on skis.

🇫🇷 LA VICTOIRE DES BLEUES !!!

Le relais féminin s'impose à Ruhpolding 💪

Julia Simon – Jeanne Richard - Sophie Chauveau - Lou Jeanmonnot 👏#lequipeBIATHLON pic.twitter.com/8j4BqW9zCz

— la chaine L'Équipe (@lachainelequipe) January 10, 2024

"I hope it continues like this, it's nice, it's beautiful”, added Lou Jeanmonnot, referring to the current series of seven consecutive victories of French biathletes in the World Cup, individual races and relays combined, and welcoming "the feeling of ease" of her teammates during the race.

A successful first for Jeanne Richard

"I still have trouble realizing, I was really well surrounded. I watched Julia's last shot, it's a hell of a shot all the same,” greeted L'Equipe Jeanne Richard on the channel, who was competing in her first relay under the colors of the French team, in place of Justine Braisaz-Bouchet.

Last runner 6 seconds behind the German Hanna Kebinger and the Swede Elvira Oeberg, Julia Simon had caught up from the prone shot, leaving despite a pickaxe shot almost 4 seconds ahead of Kebinger and almost 18 seconds ahead of Oeberg, delayed by two picks.

Frenchwoman Jeanne Richard made her debut in the women's relay in Ruhpolding. dpa - Sven Hoppe

A final perfect and ultra-fast prone shot allowed the winner of the 2023 World Cup to leave the shooting range 13 seconds ahead of the Swede, for a mano a mano which ultimately did not take place, the Frenchwoman maintaining her lead until the end.

"I started just behind Elvira Oeberg (…), I told myself that I was going to play on my strong point, which is shooting speed, and perhaps make her doubt her shooting, explained Julia Simon on the L'Equipe channel.

The fifth World Cup stage continues on Thursday in Ruhpolding with the men's 4 x 7.5 km relay. It will end this Sunday.

The Top 10 of the women's relay (4x6km) in Ruhpolding, 5th stage of the World Cup:

1. France 1:08:44.5 (0 penalty rounds)
Jeanmonnot, Richard, Chauveau, Simon

2. Sweden à 8.7 (0)
Magnusson, Persson, Brorsson, E. Oeberg

3. Germany 46.7 (0)
Hettich, Schneider, Preuss, Kebinger

4. Switzerland 1:22.3 (0)
E. Gasparin, Häcki, A. Gasparin, Baserga

5. Ukraine 1:36.1 (0)
Varvynets, Dzhima, Merkushyna, Dmytrenko

6. Italy 1:40.7 (0)
Comola, Vittozzi, Passler, Carrara

7. Czech Republic 2:33.1 (0)
Voborniková, Charvatova, Davidova, Jislova

8. Austria 2:37.5 (0)
Hauser, Gandler, Juppe, Zdouc

9. Slovenia 3:09.5 (0)
Repinc, P. Klemencic, Z. Klemencic, A. Lampic

10. Norway 3:16.0 (2)
Skogan, Knotten, Arnekleiv, Tandrevold

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