France’s Quentin Fillon Maillet’s penalties in each of the two prone stages dropped him to 10th before the standing stages. The 2022 double Olympic Champion then proceeded to clean the first standing and the crucial last standing, as his rivals went to the penalty loop, ensuring Fillon Maillet his 30:14.5 first-ever Oestersund victory. This afternoon’s win was his first in a pursuit since taking the Kontiolahti Pursuit in March 2022.

Feeling of victory is amazing”

Fillon Maillet described his 10th career pursuit victory, “Wow, what a day! Especially in the last shooting, we were seven athletes fighting for the win. I had the feeling I would fight hard in the last loop with some athletes (but it did not happen). I am really happy with my race today. The feeling of victory is amazing!”

“Stressful last shooting…gives me more energy and power”

The French veteran finds it hard to explain how he bested everyone in the pressure-packed last standing stage. “I can’t explain but I think to fight with some athletes in these crazy conditions in the last shooting is stressful but gives me more energy and power. I can’t fully explain but it worked.”

Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson, with two penalties battling Norway’s Johan-Olav Botn, also with two penalties for much of the afternoon prevailing in second place, 6.7 seconds back to Botn’s 10.3 seconds back in third. Botn retained the Yellow Bib heading to Hochfilzen next weekend.

Italy’s Tommaso Giacomel, with two penalties, finished fourth, 15.2 seconds back. Fillon Maillet’s teammate Eric Perrot, with two penalties finished fifth, 16.2 seconds back. The USA’s Campbell Wright jumped from 18th at the start with clean shooting, 25 seconds back.

Norwegians on Top Early

Light snow continued falling as the men lined up for the final Oestersund competition this week. Early on, it looked like another runaway win for Norway as Botn and Martin Uldal went shot-for-shot without a miss in the first prone, leaving together. Sturla Holm Laegreid moved to third with Samuelsson on his shoulder.

The two Norwegians both missed a shot in the second prone, but Laegreid and Samuelsson cleaned, going into the top spots. Uldal and Botn trailed 14 seconds back.

In the first standing, Laegreid had two penalties and Samuelsson one, but Botn cleaned, retaking the lead with Samuelsson 8 seconds back. Perrot after a prone penalty, cleaned, moving up to third, one second up on Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen.

Fillon Maillet Unopposed in Last Loop

Botn and Samuelsson went to the penalty loop after missing a shot in the last standing, opening the door for Fillon Maillet who cleaned quickly, taking a 19-second lead over his Norwegian and Swedish rivals. The French star went unopposed in the last loop, stomping his ski pole into the snow repeatedly in joy just before crossing the finish line. Samuelsson overpowered the Yellow Bib, securing second place, his fourth podium in five competitions at home this week.

Photos: IBU/Per Danielsson, Christian Manzoni, Nordic Focus