Simon’s 10-for-10 Seals Relay Gold for Dominant French Foursome
France’s Julia Simon’s 10-for-10 day completed a dominating afternoon for the French foursome that went wire-to-wire unchallenged taking the BMW IBU World Championships Women’s Relay Gold medal in 1:07:26.5. Simon and teammates Lou Jeanmonnot, Oceane Michelon, and Justine Braisaz Bouchet needed just four spare rounds to defend their title from Nove Mesto last winter.
“Perfect day…to win the most important relay”
Simon praised her teammates in their first relay victory of the season in the marquee competition of the winter. “They did an incredible job. It was a bit of pressure to start with this great relay from my teammates, but I really wanted to stay focused and do the best race possible for the team. They did an amazing job today. It started with Lou; she was incredible. Oceane, for her first relay in the World Championships, did a great job. Justine is always so fast. It was just a perfect day for us to win the most important relay of the season.”
“Amazing Last Loop”
With her fourth Gold medal of these Championships in hand, Simon celebrated with a bow after her last loop, followed by a more than enjoyable victory last loop, followed by another bow to the crowd, “That was an amazing last loop. My teammate Jean, all the coaches, wax techs were all there. And this incredible crowd here was just a perfect moment.”
“Silver…super fun!”
Norway won the Silver medal 1:04.2 back with a penalty and eight spares. Norway’s leadoff leg Karoline Offigstad Knotten, after a disappointing sprint and pursuit, shot perfectly, “some of my best shooting. It was especially fun to manage especially when Lou was so fast from the start and it was heavy in the tracks…When we end up with a Silver it is super fun!
Sweden took home the Bronze, 1:44.5 back, matching the Norwegians on the range.
Austria finished in a IBU WCH best-ever fourth, with a penalty and five spares, 1:54.1 back. Germany, with a penalty and ten spares finished fifth, 1:54.4 back. Slovakia, with eleven spares finished sixth, 2:15.9 back.
The 22 teams starting today faced a sunny, spring-like day with some shooting range wind and soft tracks. French first leg Jeanmonnot took the lead from the start, using just 10 shots, tagging Michelon 32 and 44 seconds up on Norway and Sweden, respectively.
Michelon’s five prone shots stretched the lead and one spare in standing gave Braisaz-Bouchet a 46 second lead, ahead of Slovenian Anamarija Lampič’s brilliant last loop.
2025 BMW IBU World Championships Lenzerheide Women's 4 X 6 km Relay
The Sprint World Champion used three spares in her two range visits, skiing to a 1:20 bulge as she tagged Simon, over Slovenia and Sweden.
Ten Shots and a Bow
Simon’s ten perfect shots stretched the French lead to 1:46 over Norway and Sweden. The French star followed her standing stage with a wave and bow to the crowd as she left for a victory loop. Maren Kirkeeide’s clean standing stage gave Norway Silver with Elvira Oeberg bringing Bronze for Sweden.
Photos: IBU/Vianney Thibaut, Nordic Focus
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