With one Sprint and one Mass Start 60 remaining, 180 points still at stake and only 18 separating them, French athletes Gaetan Paturel and Damien Levet head into the decisive week in Lake Placid battling for the IBU Cup Total Score title. We analysed their performances to see where the 18-point difference was made — and who might hold the edge in the final week.

Paturel vs Levet: wins, podiums, flowers

Paturel and Levet have both taken part in all 21 IBU Cup individual competitions this season. Levet has won twice: in the Sprint in Ridnaun-Val Ridanna and in the Sprint at the Open European Championships in Sjusjoen. Paturel has won once: in the Sprint during the regular IBU Cup week in Sjusjoen.

Paturel has one second-place finish and two third-place finishes, while Levet has one third-place finish. Levet has seven Flower Ceremonies to Paturel’s six.

Paturel vs Levet: discipline-by-discipline breakdown

Paturel won the Pursuit Score title with 290 points, compared to Levet’s 263 in second place. In the Individual, Levet scored 104 points to Paturel’s 74.

Before the final Sprint of the season, Levet leads the Sprint Score standings with 423 points — a 24-point advantage over Paturel in second place.

In the Mass Start, where the final decision is most likely to be made, Paturel has collected 65 points from the two competitions so far, while Levet has 20. Notably, Paturel finished third in Lenzerheide and did not finish the Mass Start in Brezno-Osrblie, whereas Levet managed only 31st and 28th places.

Paturel vs Levet: stats

Paturel (-7%) is, on average, the fastest skier in the IBU Cup, gaining 70 metres per kilometre on the field average. He gains 20 metres per kilometre on Levet (-5%) on the skis.

In terms of shooting accuracy, Paturel’s prone accuracy stands at 83% compared to Levet’s 82%, but Levet holds the edge in the standing position with 82% to Paturel’s 76%.

If the entire season comes down to the final two standing shootings in the Mass Start 60, the numbers would favour Levet. But when everything is on the line, nerves will ultimately decide.