Bondoux and Aspenes win in the Mass Start 60 in Obertilliach

Sverre Dahlen Aspenes of Norway and Anaelle Bondoux of France are the winners of the Mass Start 60 on the final day of the IBU Cup season 2023/2024.

Aspenes wins an all-Norwegian contest

Aspenes, with 16/20, took control of the competition with the clean shooting in the last stage and won in 38:56.0. Martin Uldal, with 17/20, finished in second place, 22.6 back. Martin Nevland, with 18/20, completed the podium, 31.5 behind Aspenes. Nevlad also won the Mass Start Score title.

The Winner's Words - Sverre Dahlen Aspenes

Luckily, I closed all targets in the last stage and grabbed the opportunity to win today. It has been a while. Martin (Uldal) was just eight seconds behind me, so I had to push really hard. It is fantastic to end the season with a win.

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Mats Oeverby (1:02.8 behind the winner), with 18/20, and Isak Frey (2:02.8 behind the winner), with 17/20, took fourth and fifth place for Norway. Emilien Claude of France joined Norwegians for the Flower ceremony in sixth place, 2:30.7 behind Aspenes.

Total Score to Michelon, Mass Start 60 to Bondoux

Earlier in the day, Bondoux, with 19/20, won in 34:01.8. Oceane Michelon was second and won her first-ever IBU Cup Total Score title.

From the start Bondoux set up a high pace on the skis no other athlete could match and missed just one shot in the second prone for a convincing win. Michelon, with 17/20, finished in the second place, 54.5 seconds behind Bondoux. Emily Schumann of Germany, with 18/20, finished third, 55.1 seconds behind the winner. Bondoux also clinched the Mass Start Score title.

The Winner's Words - Anaelle Bondoux

My shooting technique is still a work in progress, and I have some good and some bad days. I felt more secure in the shooting range in the last few days. The tracks here suit my skiing style, and I decided to attack from the beginning. I gained enough time difference on the skis to be calm on the shooting range. Winning the Mass Start Score is a reward for the whole season.

Camille Bened of France, with 18/20, finished in the fourth place, 55.9 back. Marion Wiesensarter of Germany, with 19/20, finished fifth, 1:29.0 back. Gro Randby of Norway, with 16/20, completed the Flower ceremony in sixth place, 1:32.7 behind Bondoux.

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS HERE

Total Score Winner's Words - Oceane Michelon

It was a very emotional season for me. It started with the first-ever podium and first-ever IBU Cup win in Trimester 1 in Scandinavia. Then, I joined a super strong French women's World Cup team in Oberhof and Ruhpolding and returned to the IBU Cup in Arber, where I twisted my ankle and had to rest for almost three weeks. To hold the Total Score trophy is incredible!