France’s Quentin Fillon Maillet took the lead after cleaning prone, going unchallenged from that point, taking a 21:53.2 victory and leading a French podium sweep with Fabien Claude and Emilien Jacquelin second and third in this afternoon’s Oberhof Men’s 10 km Sprint. Fillon Maillet’s clean shooting win was his first since winning the 2022 Otepaeae Sprint, completing French sprint domination here after Paula Botet’s stunning win yesterday.

“Victory means a lot”

Fillon Maillet was all smiles after his return to the top of the podium in almost three years. “This victory means a lot. It was especially hard the last two seasons and also this season with the shooting. I thought a lot about what I must do to go back on the podium, go back to a win. It is finally back, especially because this victory was very hard. I am very happy.”

Planning a Sweep, “Impossible!”

Regarding the first French podium sweep since the 2020 Kontiolahti Pursuit where Fillon Maillet and Jacquelin finished second and third behind Martin Fourcade in his last World Cup competition, “If we wanted to plan this race with the French team, it’s like impossible! I am very happy, with my teammates, it makes more emotions for the team.”

Enjoying the Moment

Claude in second also shot clean but left 14.9 seconds back, while Jacquelin missed a standing shot, to finish third, 28.8 seconds back. Claude said he “would enjoy this moment. I am really happy to take part in this three-person podium for the first time.”

Ukraine’s Dymytro Pidruchnyi finished fourth, equaling his second best-ever result, also shooting clean but 28.8 seconds back. Norwegian teammates Martin Uldal and Sturla Holm Laegreid finished fifth and sixth, both with a single penalty, 29.4 and 35.7 seconds back.

Fillon Maillet Tops Prone

After a miserable day for the women yesterday, Oberhof offered the first men’s competition a mix of 2025 clouds, -3C, and moderate range wind. It was Fillon Maillet’s day once he aggressively cleaned the prone stage, with Claude and Jacquelin third and seventh but only 2 and 7 seconds back.

Pidruchnyi was the second man to clean standing, moving into the top spot. Jacquelin missed a shot but moved ahead of the Ukrainian. Fillon Maillet went through his five standing shots as fast as in prone, going 23 seconds up on Jacquelin. Behind them, Claude, chasing his second podium of the season, was also perfect to move in front of Jacquelin.

French Sweep

Pidruchnyi continued his good day, moving to a brief lead at the finish but until Jacquelin and then Fillon Maillet took over with Claude challenging, and pushing Jacquelin to third for a French 1-2-3. Photos: IBU/Vianny Thibaut, Nordic Focus