France’s Julia Simon took control of this afternoon’s Otepää Women’s 7.5 km Sprint at the 1.2 km split, closed all ten targets rapidly on a very windy day, hanging on for a 21:29.5 victory, a mere 2.9 seconds ahead of Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi. Simon, like Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid yesterday won her second consecutive competition after taking Sunday’s Kontiolahti Women’s Mass Start. Today’s clean-shooting victory was the Olympic 15 km Individual Gold medalist’s fourth win of the season, her first in a Sprint this season.

Wind, “was easy to manage”

Simon felt well-prepared for the windy day, since little had changed from the time she zeroed to the competition. “It wasn’t easy. We had a lot of wind at zeroing, but during the race it was quite the same. So, it was easy to manage. I had a lot of fun. When I came to the shooting range, I analysed the wind and shot. For me, it was okay.”

“Always nice to fight against Lisa”

Simon and her friend Vittozzi who started a couple of minutes apart, shared a hug and congratulations at the finish. “It was a big battle on the final loop. We didn’t manage the race the same way. I started really fast and she finished really fast so it was a big, big battle. It’s always nice to fight against Lisa. She’s a great opponent, really fast on the shooting range and one of my friends. So, I am really happy to share the podium with her. It’s always special!”

Sprint Score to Jeanmonnot

Vittozzi, shooting clean almost got the win, closing 8 seconds on Simon in the last loop. Yellow/Red Bib Lou Jeanmonnot of France left the last standing stage fourth after a 10-for-10 day rallied in the final 600 meters to grab third place, 22.9 seconds back. Jeanmonnot’s third place secured the World Cup Sprint Score with 376 points to Suvi Minkkinen’s 285.

Germany’s Janina Hettich-Walz, shot clean in a season best fourth place, 24.6 seconds back. France got three women in the top six with the one-penalty Oceane Michelon fifth, 39 seconds back. Norway’s Karoline Offigstad Knotten finished in a season-best sixth place, also with a single miss, 46.4 seconds back.

Spring-like but Windy

The women had an almost spring-like 12-degree, sunny day with the wind flags almost standing straight out at times from the strong wind cutting across the range. Elvira Oeberg cleaned prone slowly, taking the lead. Vittozzi followed with a perfect stage, trailing by 4 seconds. Simon blew through prone 11 seconds up on both. Jeanmonnot closed her five targets, 20 seconds behind Simon.

Jeanmonnot Jumps to Third

Michelon after a perfect prone added a standing penalty, putting her 11 seconds behind Hettich-Walz. Vittozzi’s 10-for-10 gave her a 14-second advantage. Simon was again perfect and 10 seconds faster than Vittozzi. Jeanmonnot moved to fourth, 2 seconds behind the German. Vittozzi closed hard in the last 2.5 km while Simon faded, but still prevailed.Jeanmonnot found some extra energy in the closing meters to jump ahead of Hettich-Walz for the final podium place.

Photos: IBU/Dmytro Yevenko, Nordic Focus