France’s Lou Jeanmonnot, after not qualifying for the shooting duel final outsprinted Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi, winning the women’s super sprint with a single penalty in 15:28.4. Eric Perrot made it a French double, taking the men’s title in a photo-finish 13:42.9 over Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid.

Lou and Lisa

Jeanmonnot called her win a “very difficult race. I was not feeling so great but in the end it was a good race…I hope to have this kind of fights with Lisa this season.”

Vittozzi added, “It was really good. I enjoyed the race. I needed the competition so much. To come back here and have a great race is amazing. The finish sprint was tough; the second time that Lou beat me so I have to work on that!”

“Nice to be on the podium with Eric and Sturla”

Emilien Jacquelin, despite four penalties, rebounded to third place, 2.6 seconds back. “It was a bad start; I was 10th or 11th. No matter what, I am quite happy because I stayed calm. I tried to stay positive, every shooting getting better; a nice clean shooting at the end. I am pretty good on rollerskis, so it was a lot of fun and nice to be on the podium with Eric and Sturla even if it is not a World Cup.”

Shooting Duel to Uldal

The shooting duel opened the Blink biathlon competitions on a cloudy, windy, 17C afternoon. French Jeanmonnot was eliminated but Vittozzi advanced it to the women’s final, won by Norwegian IBU Cup athlete Eline Grue. Defending Champion Eric Perrot and Emilien Jacquelin lined up for the men’s final against fast-shooting Martin Uldal, with Uldal easily winning and Jacquelin second.

Uldal dominated the super final against Grue, swiftly cleaning spare-free for his second Blink win after last year’s super sprint victory.

Jeanmonnot Sprints to Victory

The women’s super sprint was a tight battle between Jeanmonnot, Vittozzi and resurging Juni Arnekleiv. Jeanmonnot controlled the first loop, but Vittozzi shot faster in the first prone taking the lead. The Italian fell 10 seconds back with a second-prone penalty, ceding the lead to Weidel. First standing misses by Jeanmonnot and Vittozzi put clean-shooting Weidel 14 seconds up. Arnekleiv cleaned the last standing for the lead with Jeanmonnot and Vittozzi following shoulder-to-shoulder. Vittozzi led into the finish straight; her French foe sprinted furiously for the win .8 seconds ahead of the resurgent Vittozzi, with two penalties and Arnekleiv third, 6.9 seconds back, with one penalty.

Perrot Holds Off Laegreid

The men’s final pitted Laegreid against the Perrot/Jacquelin duo. Soerum and Perrot cleaned the first prone; Laegreid and Jacquelin picked up penalties. Perrot quickly cleaned the second prone; Laegreid matched, trailing by 25 seconds. The young French star blew away the first standing; clean-shooting Laegreid gained no time. Perrot missed two last standing shots leading the Norwegian by two seconds and Jacquelin another two seconds back. Laegreid closed on Perrot in the last 10 meters, but Perrot held on for the win.

Photos: IBU/Marius Nordnes