France’s Eric Perrot seized control of this evening’s Kontiolahti Men’s 20 km Individual when he cleaned the first prone stage, perfectly closing the next 15 targets, never ceding the lead, and skiing to a 44:55.7 victory. Perrot’s fourth victory of the season gave the Yellow/Red Bib the World Cup Individual Score Discipline Globe with 211 points to runner-up and teammate Johan-Olav Botn’s 141.

Norwegians Sturla Holm Laegreid and Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, both matched Perrot on the range, but finished second and third, 29.9 and 47.9 seconds back, respectively. Laegreid’s second place marked his sixth consecutive podium result since the start of the Milan/Cortina OWG where he won three Silver and two Bronze medals.

Italy’s Lukas Hofer also shot clean in fourth, 1:18.1 back, his best-ever finish in the 20 km competition. Germany’s Philipp Nawrath, with two penalties, finished fifth, 2:19.6 back. Norway’s Martin Uldal, with a single penalty, finished sixth, 2:20.1 back.

Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni, Nordic Focus