France’s Julia Simon took control of this afternoon’s Otepää Women’s 7.5 km Sprint at the 1.2 km split, closed all ten targets rapidly on a very windy day, hanging on for a 21:29.5 victory, a mere 2.9 seconds ahead of Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi. Simon, like Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid yesterday won her second consecutive competition after taking Sunday’s Kontiolahti Women’s Mass Start. Today’s clean-shooting victory was the Olympic 15 km Individual Gold medalist’s fourth win of the season, her first in a Sprint this season.

Vittozzi, shooting clean almost got the win, closing 8 seconds on Simon in the last loop. Yellow/Red Bib Lou Jeanmonnot of France left the last standing stage fourth after a 10-for-10 day rallied in the final 600 meters to grab third place, 22.9 seconds back.

Germany’s Janina Hettich-Walz, shot clean in a season best fourth place, 24.6 seconds back. France got three women in the top six with the one-penalty Oceane Michelon fifth, 39 seconds back. Norway’s Karoline Offigstad Knotten finished in a season-best sixth place, also with a single miss, 46.4 seconds back.

Photos: IBU/Dmytro Yevenko, Nordic Focus