Mired in 16th after the first leg of this afternoon’s Ruhpolding Men’s 4 X 7.5 Km relay, France gradually worked their way back to near the front of the field. A strong third leg by Quentin Fillon Maillet put them in striking range and a brilliant clean-shooting anchor leg by Eric Perrot secured a 1:08:58.1victory. Perrot, Fillon Maillet, Oscar Lombardot and Fabien Claude had a single penalty and four spares in their first relay win of the season.

“Not about what I did, but what we did together”

Perrot, anchoring his team to victory for the first time in his career credited his teammates for the success. “It is so important to win with the team. My teammates did a great job and put me in the front to have a chance. I loved the last shooting. I really enjoyed my shoot. Also, the last round, I knew I had everything I needed to push enough to stay in the front. Of course. I knew the guys wanted to catch me. I am really happy I did it, especially for the team. It is not about what I did today but what we did together.”

“Confident in my shooting”

Regarding his extremely fast shooting, particularly in standing, he admitted speed was not his main goal. “I was really confident in my shooting. We are never sure about hitting every target, but I was focusing on that point. To be shooting fast was a consequence and not the whole point. I am happy I did both!”

Norway, with seven spares finished second after battling third place Germany in the last loop. The Norwegians with seven spares finished 6.2 seconds back while Germany with five spares finished 7.9 seconds back.

Sweden, with seven spares finished fourth, 24 seconds back. Estonia fifth with four spares recorded their best relay result in 23 years, dating back to Oberhof in 2003. Czechia, with twelve spare rounds finished sixth, 1:02.9 back.

Eight Lead Changes

Like the very competitive women’s relay, this one was action packed with eight different nations, leading at one point and a half dozen in battling at the final exchange. Seventeen teams got through the first prone within 10 seconds. Johannes Dale-Skjevdal’s two spares put Norway 25 seconds back while Claude’s standing penalty dropped France 39 seconds back.

Italy’s Lukas Hofer led at the first exchange; Dale-Skjevdal recovered, Sturla Holm Laegreid tagged 5.9 seconds back. France trailed in 16th. Norway and Germany dominated the second leg with Estonia in the mix. Lombardot’s 10-for-10 clawed France back to 12th when he tagged Fillon Maillet.

Perrot Controls Anchor Leg

Martin Ponsiluoma’s clean, quick standing stage and fast skiing moved Sweden to first in the third leg. Fillon Maillet’s single spare moved France up.

Ponsiluoma gave Samuelsson a 5-second gap on the field; Perrot trailed by 7.6 seconds, but confidently cleaned prone and standing, leaving 7.8 seconds up, assured of victory; Christiansen moved to second and Germany third

Photos: IBU/ Harald Deubert, Yevenko, Nordic Focus