Jacquelin emphasized the importance of team in their French record of four consecutive relay victories. “As we say in the morning before every relay, ‘stay focused with humility.’ But when we are on the track shooting range, everyone gives his best. Maybe in Antholz, we are not the best individually but as a team, we expect each other to be at our best to win every time. It is great that we are able to continue like that. Only four extra bullets today is great on this shooting range. We can be proud again. In history, we had two times in a row, but four is huge!”
Norway, with twelve spare rounds finished second, 43.6 seconds back, just edging Sweden in the last meters before the finish. Norwegian anchor Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen thoroughly enjoyed the fight. “That was the most fun part today fighting shoulder by shoulder with Sebbe.”
As for the French win, he added, “We hoped the French guys would be a bit nervous when they saw we had our four old guys. But I don’t think they thought about it. They were really strong, and we have to admit that they are the best team now.”
Sweden had a penalty and eight spares in their fourth relay podium this season, 44 seconds back. Italy used eight spare rounds in their season-best fourth place, 1:03.4 back. Switzerland with seven spares finished fifth, 1:54.6 back with Czechia sixth, after a penalty and twelve spares, 2:16.6 back.
Twenty teams lined up for the men’s relay under perfect conditions: sunshine and a windless shooting range. The first leg was typical shake-out. By the first exchange Sturla Holm Laegreid tagged Tarjei Boe eight seconds up on third place France; Sweden lagged in 15th.
Fillon Maillet closed the gap to the Norwegian by the prone stage, shot clean, setting up the eventual victory. Tarjei used four spares in his leg while Fillon Maillet used zero, stretching the French lead to 41 seconds.
Perrot left the exchange 37 seconds up on JT Boe, with Italy third, 54 seconds back. The rising French star fired five shots in prone, pushing the French 50 seconds up after JT needed two spares. Perrot blew through his five standing targets easily; JT used spares, dropping 57 seconds back.
Jacquelin left the last exchange 56 seconds before Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen. Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson shot clean while skiing the fastest last leg, closing down on Christiansen in the last 100 meters. The Norwegian held on with a last-ditch sprint for second ahead of the Swede.
Photos: IBU/Yevenko, Nordic Focus