First-ever Sprint Win for Braisaz-Bouchet

France’s Justine Braisaz-Bouchet took the lead in this afternoon’s Lenzerheide Women’s 7.5 km after the prone stage going unchallenged to her first-ever sprint victory in 22:13. The 2022 Olympic Mass Start Champion shot clean to secure her first win since the birth of her daughter last February.

“Great pleasure on the tracks

Braisaz-Bouchet skied well, handling the 1400-meter altitude easily was quite pleased with her sixth career victory. “I am really happy, of course, about the race today. It was tricky, a bit tricky with the track conditions (icy in places), but I managed to take great pleasure on the track especially. I am looking forward to going back home to see my daughter and husband.”

Regarding her getting back to the hotel to see her family, she added, “It is a good pleasure. It is just a good day!”

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Norway’s Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold finished second, 12.2 seconds back with Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi in third, 17.2 seconds back, both shooting clean. Tandrevold retained the Yellow Bib for Saturday’s pursuit, with 346 points to Vittozzi’s 309.

First BMW IBU World Cup in Switzerland

Very good conditions prevailed for the first-ever BMW IBU World Cup competition in Switzerland, just over a year before the Roland Arena hosts the 2025 BMW IBU World Championships. The temperature at freezing, some light snow falling and virtually no wind on the shooting range set the stage for the 88 starters; most of the top contenders cleaned prone easily. Braisaz-Bouchet with the second-fastest first loop set the bar high cleaning prone with authority, moving into the lead and never really challenged after that. Vittozzi matched coming within 8.6 seconds only to be just topped by Tandrevold’s clean stage, .8 seconds faster.

Braisaz-Bouchet Stays in Front

Braisaz-Bouchet came to standing with 11 seconds on her rivals, flew through a perfect stage, and was gone. Vittozzi did the same leaving 15.8 seconds back, dropping to third after Tandrevold also cleaned 3.5 seconds quicker.

The French star burned up the tracks on the last loop, while managing the icy spots with care, crossing the finish line with the lead. Tandrevold and Vittozzi both had solid last loops, but neither was able to gain any ground on Braisaz-Bouchet, finishing exactly where they left the shooting range, in second and third.

BMW IBU World Cup 3 Lenzerheide Women's 7.5 km Sprint

Braisaz-Bouchet’s teammate Julia Simon, with one penalty finished fourth, 39.7 seconds back. Sweden’s Elvira Oeberg, also with a penalty, finished fifth, 52 seconds back. Tandrevold’s teammate Marit Ishol Skogan, in just her seventh BMW IBU World Cup start shot clean in a career-best sixth place, 55.7 seconds back.

Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni

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