France’s Oceane Michelon who missed the Gold medal in last weekend’s Olympic Sprint got her Gold medal this afternoon in the Milan/Cortina Women’s 12.5 km Mass Start, going from 8 seconds back after the last standing stage to a 37:18.1 victory. Michelon after two penalties on the day, skied her way through heavy snowfall, passing teammate Julia Simon, Sweden’s Anna Magnusson and Czechia’s Tereza Vobornikova on her way to victory. Today’s victory was the first-ever win for the 23-year-old who won last season’s IBU Blue Bib (under 23) title.

Teammate Simon, with one penalty won the Silver medal, her fourth at these Games. Vobornikova, also with one penalty won her first-ever medal at a major championship with her career-best third place result and Bronze medal, 7.4 seconds back. Sweden’s Anna Magnusson shot clean in fourth place, her best individual result here, 26.6 seconds back. Italy’s Dorothea Wierer, in her final competition was very aggressive throughout the afternoon, leading at one point, shooting very fast, and staying close to the front, eventually finishing fifth, 30 seconds back. Magnusson’s teammate, Elvira Oeberg, with one penalty, finished sixth, 31.9 seconds back.

Photos: IBU/Vianney Thibaut, Ola Wizor, Nordic Focus