2024 IBU World Cup Total Score winner Lisa Vittozzi capped her return to competition with a dominating 15:55.6 win in the Blink Women’s Mass Start this evening. Just after Vittozzi’s joyful win, fast shooting Martin Uldal, after two earlier penalties. cleaned the final standing stage, sealing his second win of the weekend, taking the Blink Men’s Mass Start in 13:43.1.

“Some nerves; proud of myself”

Vittozzi was rightfully all smiles after her win today following a close second place in yesterday’s super sprint. “I am really happy. I felt some nerves before the race, but today I am proud of myself, but not for my last shooting (three penalties). But in the end I am satisfied.”

“Crowd…gave me a lot of energy”

As for that last shooting and the loud enthusiastic Norwegian crowd, she added, “A little bit of wind and maybe I was in a hurry and lost my focus. The crowd was unbelievable. They gave me a lot of energy in the last loop; they were incredible!”

Lisa’s Wire-to-Wire Win

Before the late evening final, Vittozzi easily won the first women’s semi-final, with nine-for ten shooting. Maren Kirkeeide took the second semi-final with Lou Jeanmonnot third.

Vittozzi dominated the 14-woman final in a wire-to-wire win that started with cleaning both prone stages as Jeanmonnot followed closely. The resurging Italian took complete control by cleaning the first standing stage for a 32-second bulge over Jeanmonnot and Juni Arnekleiv. The three missed shots in the last standing stage put Jeanmonnot and Arnekleiv within striking distance but neither could match Vittozzi’s speedy last loop. Jeanmonnot with three penalties finished second, 11 seconds back. Arnekleiv, with five penalties finished third, 17 seconds back.

Super sprint winner Eric Perrot's missed three standing shots barely qualifying 7th in the first men’s semi-final. The second men’s semi found Sturla Holm Laegreid on the outside looking in after two penalties eliminated him, while Emilien Jacquelin qualified next-to-last like his teammate.

Uldal’s Standing Stage Seals Victory

Perrot rebounded from his semi-final troubles with a fast clean first prone but fell back after second prone penalties. Jacquelin pressed the pace into the first standing stage, shooting fast and clean for a two-second lead over the also-clean, equally fast Uldal. Jacquelin’s two penalties in the last standing ceded the lead to clean-shooting Uldal. Perrot rebounded with five perfect shots, but the 24-year-old Norwegian rising star pulled away for the win, waving his ski club’s flag, and celebrating his victory. Perrot, with two penalties finished second, 4.3 seconds back. Jacquelin with four penalties finished third, 10.2 seconds back.

As Blink 2025 ended, Emilien Jacquelin summed up, “According to our coach Stephane Bouthieux said, ‘At Blink Festival, you will see who will be great in the winter.’”

Photos: IBU/Marius Nordnes