VIDEO. Biathlon Worlds: for the first time in their history, the French women were crowned in the relay thanks to a superb race

Julia Simon a terminé le travail à la fin du relais féminin des Françaises. dpa – Hendrik Schmidt

Les Françaises ont tenu leur rang de grandes favorites en remportant le relais féminin pour la première fois de leur histoire, samedi 17 février lors des Mondiaux de biathlon à Nove Mesto.

Lou Jeanmonnot, Sophie Chauveau, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Julia Simon gave France a ninth medal in the Czech Republic, the fifth gold, consolidating the Blues' first place in the medal rankings.

After two victories in the mixed and single mixed relays, France is currently doing well in the team events, before the men's relay on Saturday afternoon, a priori promised to the Norway. The French women won with a 38'' advance over Sweden and 1'14'' on Germany.

Lou Jeanmonnot put the French quartet into orbit thanks to an impressive first stint, during which she scored a 10/10. Things then got worse when Sophie Chauveau passed by, feverish when confirming her team's lead: the 24-year-old biathlete had to turn twice on the penalty ring, the fault to a faulty shot.

🇫🇷 LES BLEUES SONT CHAMPIONNES DU MONDE DU RELAIS POUR LA PREMIERE FOIS DE L'HISTOIRE ! #lequipeBIATHLON pic.twitter.com/sD51pAvV9L

— la chaine L'Équipe (@lachainelequipe) February 17, 2024

The rise of Braisaz-Bouchet 

Chauveau launched Justine Braisaz-Bouchet 45 seconds behind the race lead, but "JBB" then began a spectacular comeback, using only a single pickaxe. Supersonic on skis, better than its rivals on a windy launch pad, Braisaz-Bouchet put France back in first place.

Ideal for the big winner of these Worlds, Julia Simon, winner of the pursuit/sprint block and last French relay runner. Simon then maintained the Blue lead, despite a scare during the standing shot (three picks), and raced to victory, a first for a French women's relay at the World Championships.

The men's relay will start at 4:30 p.m., with the Norwegians heavily favored, thanks to their three titles in the individual events, including two triples.