Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi patiently skied with France’s Julia Simon through the prone stages of this afternoon’s Otepää Women’s 10 km Pursuit, following her rival into the first standing. Vittozzi’s cleaned as Simon went to the penalty loop, with the Italian skiing away to a 33:33.7 victory. The Olympic Pursuit Gold medalist’s win was her third of the season, all in pursuit competitions.

Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen, with one penalty, wearing the Red Bib retained her lead in the Pursuit Score with her second place,26.2 seconds back. Minkkinen outsprinted France’s Yellow Bib-wearing Lou Jeanmonnot by .7 seconds, in a last-minute dash to the finish, leaving the French star in third. Jeanmonnot with one penalty extended her lead in the Total Score to 201 points over the Finn.

France’s Justin Braisaz-Bouchet,, with three penalties finished fourth, 52.7 seconds back with her teammate Oceane Michelon, also with three miscues, fifth, 1:03.3 back Sweden’s Linn Gestblom, with two penalties finished in a season-best sixth place, 1:04.5 back.

Photos: IBU/Dmytro Yevenko, Nordic Focus