France’s Eric Perrot left the first prone stage in this afternoon’s Nove Mesto Men’s 15 km Mass Start 1.6 seconds out of first position. After cleaning the second prone, he was in front and in control, challenged by USA’s Campbell Wright in the last standing stage but never ceding the lead in a perfectly executed 35:59.6 victory, his second consecutive victory and clean-shooting day in Nove Mesto. Perrot's third mass start win of his career vaulted him past Italy’s Tommaso Giacomel and into the Yellow Bib.

“Better when alone…I could push harder”

Perrot called his second victory this week, “A really good day. I was pushing really hard on myself to make a 20-out-ot-20 again. It was a little bit tough in the beginning of the race on the tracks. Then it was better when I was alone and I could push hard. It was a really good one today; I enjoyed it.”

Yellow Bib, “great to be on top”

Moving back into Yellow brought a smile to Perrot’s face, but he knows the season is far from over. “It is so great to be on top. I know the season is still long, because there are three more weeks coming after the Olympics. I know it is a good position to be in, but I will also try to keep going on to keep this until the end.”

Wright, with one penalty in the final standing stage, equaled his personal best result in second place, 8 seconds back. Norway’s Sverre Dahlen Aspenes recorded a huge personal best, shooting clean for his first-ever podium third place, 16.2 seconds back. Aspenes’ previous career best was 16th in the 2026 Oberhof Pursuit.

France’s Fabien Claude, with two penalties, finished in a season-best fourth place, 23.8 seconds back. Italy’s Lukas Hofer, with one penalty, finished fifth, 38.1 seconds back, with Fabien’s younger brother Emilien in sixth, also with one penalty, 41 seconds back.

Foggy Afternoon

The final men’s competition before next month’s Olympic Winter Games was marked by bit more wind on a cold, foggy afternoon. Fourteen men cleaned the first prone led by Jesper Nelin and Perrot. Sebastian Samuelsson shot on lane one in the second prone and cleaned, going out third, just behind Aspenes and Perrot who cleaned just a bit faster. Seven men remained in close contention, separated by 6 seconds.

Perrot cleaned the first standing stage quickly, gaining a small advantage over Wright and Aspenes, who matched.

Perrot Controls Tempo, Shoots Clean

The young French star controlled the tempo as he and Wright put a gap between them and their rivals before the deciding final standing stage. After four perfect fast shots, Perrot hesitated with his last one before closing it, solidifying his lead. Wright’s single penalty dropped him 20 seconds back, with Aspenes on his shoulder.

With a solid lead, Perrot had time to slap a few hands and wave to the crowd skied the last loop; Wright and Aspenes completed the podium.

Photos: IBU/Jaroslav Svoboda, Yevenko, Nordic Focus