Simon’s Last Standing Seals Nove Mesto Pursuit Win
France’s Julia Simon never led this evening’s Nove Mesto na Morave Women’s 10 km Pursuit until she cleaned the last standing stage, skiing away to a 30:56 win. Simon’s clean-shooting win was her second of the season and first in the Pursuit since 2023 when she won the World Cup Total Score title.
Nove Mesto, “one of the best places”
Simon who captured four Gold medals at the 2024 IBU World Championships here admitted it was one of her favorite venues. “It was a crazy battle out there; very tough. But I am very happy to win here. This is a great place for me here in Nove Mesto and I love it. It was amazing, amazing crowd. People are really loud here. (Finishing first here) is always something special. I think it is one of the best places. It is hard to tell. You have to live it. It was really tough, but I did a great job today.”
“I have the energy left”
Sweden’s Hanna Oeberg’s second place, 17.2 seconds back, ended a podium drought dating back to the 2023 Lenzerheide World Cup when she finished third in the Mass Start. Oeberg’s clean shooting was her first since last season. “It feels like finally! Of course, I have been struggling a whole lot this season. I also felt like since the relay in the World Championships I have been in a really good way…I feel like in these last races of the season, I have the energy left and can enjoy it a little bit more and not put so much pressure on myself. I’ve put myself in a position to perform well.”
Simon’s teammate Oceane Michelon, with two penalties, finished third, 19.2 seconds back, her third podium of the season. France’s Lou Jeanmonnot, with two penalties, finished in the same spot as in the Sprint, fourth 20.4 seconds back. Jeanmonnot continued to close the gap in her World Cup Total Score battle with Germany’s Franziska Preuss, who now has 933 points to Jeanmonnot’s 897. Germany’s Selina Grotian, with one penalty. was fifth, 24.1 seconds back. Italy’s Dorothea Wierer, with a single penalty, finished sixth, 29.6 seconds back.
Red-sky dusk; Tandrevold leads early
The afternoon sunshine, enjoyed by the men gave way to a red-sky dusk and evening. Sprint winner Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold carefully cleaned the first prone, as did Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Simon and Jeanmonnot, remaining 2-4. The leader cleaned the second prone as did Jeanmonnot in second; Simon and Braisaz-Bouchet had penalties. Five additional women followed within 4 seconds.
In the first standing, Tandrevold’s three penalties ceded the lead to Jeanmonnot. Simon and Wierer both went to 15-for-15 in second and third, 17 and 21 seconds back.
2024/25 BMW IBU World Cup 7 Nove Mesto na Morave Women's 10 km Pursuit
Simon Cleans Last Standing for Victory
Jeanmonnot picked up two last standing penalties, while Simon cleaned, giving her the lead and the win and a big gap to second position Hanna. Michelon flew around the last loop, securing third place from Jeanmonnot.
Photos: IBU/Igor Stancik, Nordic Focus
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