France’s Julia Simon’s speedy and fast standing stage put the cap on her team’s overwhelming 1:18:21.9 victory in this afternoon’s Oberhof Women’s 4 X 6 km relay. From the moment in the first prone stage, when Lou Jeanmonnot took a big lead and Sweden’s Anna Magnusson banged her rifle, falling out of contention with her French rival, there was no doubt about a French win. Simon, Jeanmonnot, Oceane Michelon and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet used just eight spare rounds on a windy day that saw multiple teams needing more than 15 extra shots.

“Teamwork”

Simon enjoyed the flag-waving victory, admitting it felt, “really great. The team did a great job. It was not so easy to close this race, but I Am really happy with this teamwork.”

On the wind, “I think we were lucky”

Regarding the gusty, unpredictable wind, “The challenge was to check the wind; to really focus on the wind. I think it’s a bit tricky. For me, it was my mistakes (in prone); I wasn’t focused enough. I think we were lucky; I think the men’s race was more difficult.”

Norway finished second with one penalty and seven spares, 53,7 seconds back after anchor Maren Kirkeeide outshot Germany’s Franziska Preuss in their standing stage. Germany with a penalty and thirteen spares finished third, 1:28.4 back.

Finland powered by Suvi Minkkinen’s strong anchor leg finished fourth, with three penalties and nine spares, 2:07.7 back. Sweden rebounded from 12th position at the second exchange to finish fifth, with two penalties and sixteen spares, 2:42.8 back. The USA, with nine spares finished sixth, 2:56.9 back.

Jeanmonnot Sets Tone

Mid-afternoon’s women’s relay found the same tough, windy Oberhof conditions with light blowing snow. The wind battered every team; the sixteen finishers recorded 194 spare rounds. Jeanmonnot opened with a fast loop and clean prone, setting the tone for the day, 20 seconds up on Germany. Anna Magnusson’s rifle mishap cost podium rival Sweden major time.

After Jeanmonnot’s three spares in standing, she tagged Michelon 8 and 17 seconds up on Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold and Italy’s Michela Carrara, respectively. Michelon upped the lead to 17 seconds over Slovakia with a perfect prone stage and despite two standing reloads bumping the French lead to 24 seconds.

Justine 10-for-10

Braisaz-Bouchet left the second exchange with 30 seconds to Slovakia and 13 seconds to Norway. The 2022 Olympic Gold medalist shot slowly but clean in prone, upping the gap to 46 seconds. Karoline Offigstad Knotten struggled reloading, dropping Norway back to 1:07 off the lead. Braisaz-Bouchet went to 10-for-10, bloating the French lead to 1:29 over the clean-shooting Hettich-Walz and Germany.

Kirkeeide Moves to Second

Franziska Preuss and Maren Kirkeeide tagged 1:30 and 1:32 behind Simon. Simon cleaned prone using two spares; Preuss and Kirkeeide matched; the German gaining a 5-second advantage with a faster cadence. The French star mowed down her five standing targets, leaving no doubt about the victory. Kirkeeide did the same, leaving second; Preuss used spare rounds falling to third.

Photos: IBU/Heilwagen, Yevenko, Nordic Focus